bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anatomical Variations and Dimension of the Intracranial Vertebral Artery: Evaluation With Multidetector Computed Tomography Angiography
Authors: Omotoso Bukola , Harrichandparsad Rohen , Satyapal Kapil , Moodley Indheresan , Lazarus Lelika
Published: March 2021

The intracranial segment of the vertebral artery (VA) is the unique part of the artery where the two VAs join to form a single vascular channel, viz. the basilar artery. In addition to this typical description, anatomical variations have been described; the presence of anatomical variation has been associated with some pathological processes, neurological complications, and the risk of vascular diseases in the posterior circulatory territory. We evaluated the typical anatomical features and variations of the VA4 component of the VA in a South African population to provide useful data on the prevalence of variation and morphometry of the distal VA. The study is an observational, retrospective chart review of 554 consecutive South African patients (Black, Indian, and White) who had been examined with multidetector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) from January 2009 to September 2019. We observed various anatomical variations in the VA4 segment of the VA. We report the incidence of VA hypoplasia, hypoplastic terminal VA, and atresia. Fenestration and duplicate posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) origin were also observed. The left intracranial VA was significantly larger than the right. Our study shows that anatomical variation of the intracranial VA is common in the population studied, with a total prevalence of 36.5%. Imaging of the entire course of the VA from the origin to the point of convergence to form the basilar artery may be necessary to decide a treatment strategy for interventions in the vicinity of the VA.
System Design and Experimental Research on the Tangential Ultrasonic Vibration-assisted Grinding Gear
Authors: Bie Wenbo , Zhao Bo , Zhao Chongyang , Yin Long , Guo Xingchen
Published: March 2021

Gear plays an important role in transmitting motion and power system, and a new promising process should be utilized to enhance the machining accuracy and performance. In this paper, the ultrasonic vibration was superimposed into the gear to carry out the tangential ultrasonic vibration-assisted grinding gear (TUVAGG). The longitudinal resonant vibration system was designed based on the non-resonant theory. Firstly, the gear was simplified into a disc with the diameter of the reference circle, and the dynamic equation of each part was erected respectively. Then the frequency equation was derived according to the coupling conditions of the force and displacement during the combined surface of the vibration system. Simultaneously, the characteristic of displacement for the vibration system was also obtained. Secondly, the vibration system composed of the simplified disc and the gear was simulated by the finite elements analysis method, and verified by the resonant measurement experiment respectively. The measurement results exhibited a good agreement with the theoretical. Finally, the effectiveness of the vibration system was verified through the ultrasonic vibration-assisted grinding gear test. It was found that compared with the conventional grinding gear (CGG), the normal grinding force and tangential grinding force was reduced by 7.4-28.2% and 8.9-18.9% respectively during TUVAGG. Besides, the grinding temperature and the surface roughness was declined by 7.6-25.7% and 8.6-21.8% respectively, and the residual compressive stress of tooth surface was elevated by 13.2-29.3%. It was concluded that the non-resonant theory was suitable for the designation of longitudinal vibration system for TUVAGG, and also provided a novel process technology for gear machining.
The ratio of HDL-C to apoA-I interact with free triiodothyronine to modulate coronary artery disease risk
Authors: Li Li , Lu Wei , Li Feng , Yu Lei , Xiao Jianqiang , Cai Gaojun
Published: March 2021

Objective: The present research was carried out to explore the correlation between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)/ apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) ratio and serum free triiodothyronine (FT3) and their interaction on the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: A total of 1,686 patients underwent selective coronary angiography, including 1,279 CAD patients and 407 controls were enrolled in the present study. The subjects were divided into three groups according to tertiles of HDL-C/apoA-I. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the interaction of HDL-C/apoA-I and FT3 on the risk of CAD.Results: The group with highest HDL-C/apoA-I had the lowest FT3 levels. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that HDL-C/apoA-I were negatively associated with FT3 after adjusting age, sex, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoproteinB (ApoB). Logistic regression model showed that high HDL-C/apoA-I (>0.89mmol/g) and high FT3 level (>4.5pmol/l) were protective factor for CAD. Patients with the lower HDL-C/ apoA-I (≤0.89mmol/g) and FT3 level (≤4.5pmol/l) have an increased risk of CAD (OR =2.441, P=0.000, S =1.13, AP=0.068, AP* = 0.116, RERI=0.168).Conclusions: Lower HDL-C/ apoA-I was risk factor for CAD and there was a positive interaction between HDL-C/ apoA-I and FT3 on the risk of CAD.
Fusion Energy: On the track of a different philosophy and solution
Authors: Ferro Joao
Published: March 2021

When two (or more) nuclei fuse, to form a heavier element, energy is released. The mechanism is known, at least to some degree. And the actual technological development on the subject has been introducing applications in many areas. Even so, there are some challenges before we can be able to provide energy by an appropriated fusion process: high needs of power, plasma confinement issues, heavy equipment, etc. The present idea intends to show a different view. The author calls in a broad sense, Conceptual Thesis, and it has the Natural Language as principal tool. The author either explicitly or implicitly discusses the space-time fabric, double-slit experiment, and other concepts like non-duality. A nano-apparatus draft with the purpose to be in the scope of a near future research, closes the picture.
Establishment of Bp-ann Based Risk Assessment Model for Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis in Critically Ill Patients : Mullti-centre, Prospective, Descriptive Correlational Study
Authors: Chen Ying , Wang SuMei , Di Jie , Qin Xian , Guan Chun , Qu Yan
Published: March 2021

Background The objective of this study was to establish a risk assessment model for lower extremity deep venous thrombosis in critically ill patients and compared with Caprini, Padua and Wells risk assessment model to evaluate its efficacy. Methods We conducted a pooled analysis of prospective cohort studies. The outcomes of interest were lower extremity deep vein thrombosis group and Non-lower extremity deep vein thrombosis group were determined by univariate analysis, and SPSS was used to establish the back propagation artificial neural network prediction model. ROC curve was used to evaluate the predictive effectiveness of the model. Medcalc15.2 was used to compare the predictive capabilities of different models. Results 600 cases of intensive care unit patients were selected in this study. The prevalence of lower extremity venous thromboembolism after ICU admission was 12.5%. The results of univariate analysis that showed 16 statistically significant difference influencing factors. The ROC curve area of BP-ANN risk assessment model was 0.828, showing good predictive efficacy. In addition to the ROC curve area of BP-ANN risk assessment model was higher than Caprini, Padua and Wells model. Conclusion BP-ANN risk assessment model can play an auxiliary role in predicting the occurrence of lower extremity venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients. This model can provide a reference for medical staff to take preventive management measures.
Metamaterial Microwave Absorber (MMA)) for Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)) Shielding in X-band
Authors: Mishra Rakesh , Gupta Ravi , Datar Suwarna
Published: March 2021

The present paper is aimed at investigating application of planar Metamaterial (MM) structures for effective EMI Shielding and Stealth applications in X-Band. Various MM structures using FR4 substrate and Copper conductors were conceived and designed followed by simulations carried out using CST MWS Suite software. As a first step, the de- signs were aimed at achieving extremely high absorption for normal incidence, polarisation independence and maintaining high absorption in wide angle performance while keeping the requirement of light weight, flexibility and environmental ruggedness in mind for deployability on platforms to achieve effective stealth against Radars and for other EMI shielding applications. Circularly symmetric, single layer Metamaterial Microwave Absorber (MMA) design over thin FR4 substrate in spokes and wheel structural arrangement provided these desired features. The thin FR4 substrate of 0.6 mm provides the light weight and flexibility while absorbing the EM waves. Rotational symmetry of the spoke and cut-wheel design gives it polarisation independence and 4 ring planar array concept with rings scaled to different sizes in the same plane in the unit cell provided the increase in bandwidth. Reduction in received signal level of the echo is depicted by the S-Parameter at the input port. Getting values of this S-Parameter less than -60dB at resonant frequency for MMAs is highly encouraging and is not reported much in literature. Enhancement of nearly 3-8 times in operating bandwidth was achieved by changing size of rings in each quadrant in the co-planar array having four resonant rings in each unit cell.
Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) for Documenting Changes through Treatment of Joseon Dynasty Coins
Authors: Min Jihyun , Jeong Sanghoon , Park Kangwoo , Choi Yeonghwan , Lee Daewon , Ahn Jaehong , Har Donghwan , Ahn Sangdoo
Published: March 2021

In this paper we present RTI as a documentation tool for visualizing and recording the treatment of coins. RTI, a computational photograph technique based on raking light images, allows interactive re-lighting for vision. Virtual light enhances surface details to examine morphological difference. Stages of conservation treatment were recorded to enhance characteristic features of the relief upon the coin surface and detect and identify weathered characters. Patina removal and consolidation were documented along with the original state. A significant difference in normal and surface texture was observed using RTI viewer and filters. Specular enhancement and normal visualization results were effective for detecting the change of morphology and reflectivity. Characters submersed by thick patina were revealed in Coin 3. Two hidden characters were detected as ‘元’ and ‘訓’. Another illegible character which was previously not regarded as an inscription was discovered. Also, verification of each treatment stage was done to examine whether any foreign material was sufficiently removed. These documentation images indicate that RTI is a promising tool to support manual recording and furthermore allow detection of areas difficult to visualize through the human eye.
Privacy-preserving Scheme using Secure Group Communication for M-healthcare Information Systems
Authors: Daghighi Babak , Raee Vahid Maleki , Kiah Miss Laiha Mat , Tahaei Hamid
Published: March 2021

The expeditious growth of the wearable and implantable body sensors and wireless communication technologies have provided both inspiration and motivation for increasingly development of m-healthcare information systems as a promising next generation e-health system. In m-healthcare systems, the authorized mobile patients with the same disease symptoms can constitute a social group to share their health condition and medical experience. The privacy of social communication transferred over open wireless channels is an essential system requirement. Furthermore, the m-healthcare system on contrary to the traditional e-Health system allows mobile patients to move across distinguished location domains during different time periods. The mobility of patients considerably increases the cost of key management in terms of communication overhead if it is addressed with a naïve solution such as treating as a leave in the old location and a new join in the visited location. This paper proposes a privacy-preserving scheme, which maintains the secrecy of patients’ personal health information using secure group communication in m-healthcare information systems while supporting mobility of patients. The scheme is highly scalable, and treats patients’ mobility with the minimum rekeying cost, as such efficiently preserve secrecy of communication between patients associated with a social group. The security properties of the proposed scheme as well as its performance based on simulation experiments are evaluated. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme outperforms the existing solution in terms of communication overhead.
How Acculturation Influences Attitudes About Advance Care Planning and End-of-life Care Among Chinese Living in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia
Authors: Chiang Fu-Ming , Hsieh Jyhgang , Wang Ying-Wei
Published: March 2021

Background ：
Understanding attitudes towards life and death issues in different cultures is critical in end-of-life care and the uptake of advance care planning (ACP) in different countries. However, existing research suffers from a lack of cross-cultural comparisons among countries. By conducting this comparative study, we hope to achieve a clear understanding of the linkages and differences among healthcare cultures in different Chinese societies, which may serve as a reference for promoting ACP by considering cultural differences.

Methods ：
Our researchers recruited Chinese adults who could communicate in Mandarin and lived in metropolitan areas in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia. Focus group interviews were conducted, and the interview contents were recorded and subjected to thematic analysis.

Results ：
Between June and July 2017, 14 focus groups with 111 participants were conducted in four regions. With traditional Chinese attitudes towards death as a taboo, many participants felt it would be challenging to discuss ACP with elderly family members. Most participants also desire to avoid suffering for the self and family members. Although the four regions' participants shared a similar Chinese cultural context, significant regional differences were found in the occasions at which participants would engage in end-of-life discussions and select settings for end-of-life care. By contrast, participants from Singapore and Australia exhibited more open attitudes. Most participants from Taiwan and Hong Kong showed a preference for end-of-life care at a hospital.

Conclusions ：
The developmental experiences of ACP in Western countries, which place a strong emphasis on individual autonomy, cannot be directly applied to family-centric Asian ones. Healthcare professionals in Asian societies should make continuous efforts to communicate patient status to patients and their family members to ensure family involvement in decision-making processes.
Visualization of Cells at the Solid-microbe Interface Using Confocal Reflection Microscopy With Index-matching Materials
Authors: Okano Chigusa , Hirayama Tomohiro , Nomura Nobuhiko , Yawata Yutaka
Published: March 2021

Herein, we demonstrated that the use of index-matching materials (IMM) allows direct visualization of microbial cells maintained at a solid-liquid interface through confocal reflection microscopy (CRM). The RI mismatch induces a background reflection at the solid-liquid interface, which dwarfs the reflection signals from the cells and results in low-contrast images. We found that the IMM sufficiently suppressed the background reflection at the solid-liquid interface, facilitating the imaging of microbes at the solid surface using CRM. Further, we succeeded in temporal imaging of initial biofilms directly colonizing the IMM with CRM in a tag free fashion, and thus, it is highly advantageous for probing the dynamics of biofilm formation, along with visualization of environmental organisms and newly isolated bacteria, for which transformation methods are difficult to establish.
Comparison of rotation forest based intelligence models for landslide susceptibility modeling
Authors: Zhao Xia , Chen Wei , Li Tao , Huang Faming , Peng Chaohong , Shahabi Himan , Bian Huiyuan
Published: March 2021

The precision of landslide susceptibility assessment has always been the focus of landslide spatial prediction research. It can be considered as the possibility of landslide disaster under the action of human activities or natural factors, or both of them. For the further exploration of the mechanism of this process, Muchuan County was proposed as the study area, and four well-known machine learning models, namely rotation forest (RF), J48 decision tree (J48), alternating decision tree (ADTree) and random forest (RaF), and their ensembles (RF-J48, RF-ADTree and RF-RaF) were introduced to explore the mechanism. These models are established by twelve landslide conditioning factors, which are selected based to the local special geological environment conditions and previous related researches, including plan curvature, profile curvature, slope angle, slope aspect, elevation, topographic wetness index (TWI), land use, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), soil, lithology, distance to roads, and distance to rivers, as well as training (195 landslides) and validation (84 landslides) datasets were developed. The landslide prediction performance of the above conditioning factors was analyzed through the correlation attribute evaluation (CAE) model. Then, through the landslide susceptibility maps made by the above six different models, the Jenks natural breaks method is used to divide the landslide susceptibility into five grades, which are very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. In addition, the accuracy of the above six landslide susceptibility maps was verified by implementing the relative operating characteristic curve (ROC) and the area under the ROC (AUC). That is, the capabilities of the above six models are compared and verified in the landslide spatial prediction. Finally, the obtained results show that elevation, lithology and TWI are the three most principal landslide conditioning factors in this research. The RF-RaF and RaF models in the training dataset performed best, with the AUC value of 0.75, while the RF-ADTree model (0.74), RF-J48 model (0.74), ADTree model (0.71) and J48 model (0.70) performed poorly. Meanwhile, similar results also emerge from the validation dataset, in which the RF-RaF model acquired the best performance (0.82) and the rest are the RF-ADTree model (0.80), RaF model (0.79), RF-J48 model (0.77), ADTree model (0.76) and J48 model (0.71). Last but by no means the least, the results can provide scientific references for local natural resources departments.
First and Second Morning Spot Urine Protein Measurements for the Assessment of Proteinuria: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Mrevlje Maja , Oblak Manca , Mlinšek Gregor , Buturović-Ponikvar Jadranka , Lindič Jelka , Arnol Miha
Published: March 2021

Background. Quantification of proteinuria in kidney transplant recipients is important for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Apart from correlation tests, there have been few evaluations of spot urine protein measurements in kidney transplantation.Methods. In this cross-sectional study involving 151 transplanted patients, we investigated measures of agreement (bias and accuracy) between the estimated protein excretion rate (ePER), determined from the protein-to-creatinine ratio in the first and second morning urine, and 24-hour proteinuria and studied their performance at different levels of proteinuria. Measures of agreement were reanalyzed in relation to allograft histology in 76 patients with kidney biopsies performed for cause before enrolment in the study.Results. For ePER in the first morning urine, percent bias ranged from 1% to 28% and accuracy (within 30% of 24-hour collection) ranged from 56% to 73%. For the second morning urine, percent bias ranged from 2% to 11%, and accuracy ranged from 71% to 78%. The accuracy of ePER (within 30%) in first and second morning urine progressively increased from 56% and 71% for low-grade proteinuria (150-299 mg/day) to 60% and 74% for moderate proteinuria (300-999 mg/day), and to 73% and 78% for high-grade proteinuria (≥1000 mg/day). Measures of agreement were similar across histologic phenotypes of allograft injury.Conclusions. The ability of ePER to accurately predict 24-hour proteinuria in kidney transplant recipients is modest. However, accuracy improves with an increase in proteinuria. Given the similar accuracy of ePER measurements in first and second morning urine, second morning urine can be used to monitor protein excretion.
Skeletal muscle loss was associated with the risk of diabetes in non non-alcoholic fatty liver disease Chinese male middle-aged and elderly population, the Shanghai Changfeng Study
Authors: Chen Lingyan , Xia Mingfeng , Wu Li , Li Qian , Hu Yu , Ma Hui , Gao Xin , Lin Huandong
Published: March 2021

Background

Previous studies have presented skeletal muscle loss was associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, whether the presence of NAFLD could influence the association between skeletal muscle mass and DM was still unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship of skeletal muscle mass with diabetes in Chinese middle-aged and older community population, and whether the association could be effected by NAFLD.
Methods

A cross-sectional study of 5,626 residents aged 45 and above in Changfeng community in Shanghai were conducted. Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) was detected by dual-energy X ray absorption (DXA) and calculated as ASM% [appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) (kg) /body weight*100%]. Liver fat content (LFC) was measured using a quantitative ultrasound method. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the association between ASM% quartiles with DM.
Results

With ASM% decreasing, fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2hBG) and Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as well as LFC increased in both genders, and the prevalence of diabetes and NAFLD also increased. Spearman analysis showed ASM% was negatively correlated with FBG, 2hBG and LFC. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed after multiple adjustments, ASM% quartile was negatively associated with the risk of diabetes only in male, but not in female. Subgroup analysis found the ASM% quartiles remained negatively correlated with the risk of diabetes in male non-NAFLD population, but not in NAFLD population. When stratified by LFC quartiles, the results was similar. After multivariate adjustments, low ASM% was negatively correlated with the risk of diabetes only in the first and second LFC quartile in male, and the association remained insignificant in each LFC quartile in female.
Conclusions

Skeletal muscle mass was negatively associated with the risk of diabetes in male population but not in female. The presence of NAFLD weakened this association. The results suggested stratified management of diabetes should be considered according to skeletal muscle mass and the presence of NAFLD.
Attention to speaking mouth is reduced by face inversion in infants only from 9 months of age
Authors: Laudańska Zuzanna , Dopierała Aleksandra , Szmytke Magdalena , Ilyka Dianna , Malinowska-Korczak Anna , Tomalski Przemysław
Published: March 2021

Configural processing is a specialised perceptual mechanism that allows adult humans to quickly process facial information. It emerges before the first birthday and can be disrupted by upside-down presentation of the face (inversion). To date, little is known about the relationship of configural face processing to the emerging knowledge of audiovisual (AV) speech in infancy. Using eye-tracking we measured attention to speaking mouth in upright and inverted faces that were either congruent or incongruent with the speech sound. Face inversion affected looking at AV speech only in older infants (9- to 11- and 12- to 14-month-olds). The youngest group of infants (5- to 7-month-olds) did not show any differences in looking durations between upright and inverted faces, while in both older groups face inversion led to reduced looking at the articulating mouth. We also observed a stronger interest in the eyes in the youngest infants, followed by an increase in looking time to the mouth in both older groups. Our findings suggest that configural face processing is involved in AV speech processing already in infancy, indicating early integration of face and speech processing mechanisms in cognitive development.
Novel KNN Algorithms for Spherical Regions Based on Clustering and Region Division
Authors: Wang Haiyan Wang Haiyan , Xu Peidi Xu Peidi , Zhao Jinghua Zhao Jinghua
Published: March 2021

The KNN classification algorithm is one of the most commonly used algorithm in the AI field. But classical KNN classification algorithm does not preprocess data before classification calculation, which results in a long time required for classification and a decrease in classification accuracy. To solve the above problems, this paper proposes two improved algorithms, namely KNNTS, and KNNTS-PK+. The two improved algorithms are based on KNNPK+ algorithm, which uses PK-Means + + algorithm to select the center of the spherical region, and sets the radius of the region to form a sphere to divide the data set in the space. The KNNPK+ algorithm improves the classification accuracy on the premise of stabilizing the classification efficiency of KNN classification algorithm. In order to improve the classification efficiency of KNN algorithm on the premise that the accuracy of KNN classification algorithm remains unchanged, KNNTS algorithm is proposed. It uses tabu search algorithm to select the radius of spherical region, and uses spherical region division method with equal radius to divide the data set in space. On the basis of the first two improved algorithms, KNNTS-PK+ algorithm combines them to divide the data sets in space. After preprocessing the data by two methods, experiments are carried out on the new data set and the classification results were obtained. Results revealed show that the two improved algorithms can effectively improve the classification accuracy and efficiency after the data samples are cut reasonably.
Efficacy and Safety of Traditional Chinese medicine in patients with acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: study protocol for randomized, controlled, exploratory clinical trial
Authors: Zhang Hailong , Li Jiansheng , Guo Wen , Wang Lu , Zhang Dong , Zhao Limin , Zhou Miao , Luo Weixian
Published: March 2021

Background: At present, there is short of effective treatment for acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF). The treatment of IPF with Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has some advantages. However, the evidence is unclear whether TCM can be recommended as an effective therapy to treat AE-IPF. The purpose of the study is to explore the efficacy and safety of TCM for patients with AE-IPF.Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, exploratory clinical trial will be performed. A total of 80 patients diagnosed AE-IPF will be randomized into the intervention or control group. In addition to conventional treatment, the intervention group will be treated with Kangxianhuanji granule, and the control group will be given a placebo granule. The administration frequency is 10g each time and two times daily. After 4 weeks of treatment, the patients were followed up for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes are treatment failure rate and all-cause of mortality. Secondary outcome measures will include the length of hospitalization, overall survival, acute exacerbation rate, intubation rate, Modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) score, and the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (SGRQ-I) score, and arterial blood gas analysis.Discussion: TCM may be beneficial in IPF. However, it has never been evaluated in patients with AE-IPF, who are incredibly prone to respiratory failure and have a high mortality rate. It is the first clinical trial to explore the efficacy and safety of TCM in the treatment of AE-IPF. This result will provide a basis for further study, which provide a high-quality evidence for the treatment of AE-IPF with TCM.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900026289. Registered 29 September 2019, http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx.
MODERN MODELS OF POPULATION ADAPTATION TO DYNAMICALLY CHANGING SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF LIFE
Authors:   Institute of Economics of the Ural Branch of RAS, Shelomentsev A. , Bessonova T. ,   Yugra State University, Goncharova K. ,   Institute of Economics of the Ural Branch of RAS
Published: March 2021

In recent years, living conditions of a population have changed rapidly due to complex social, economic, cultural, political and other processes. This naturally leads not only to a transformation of the system of values, motivation, worldview, but also an entire way of life. High rates of these changes simultaneously led a delegation given, on the one hand, a diversity of forms of response behavior, from the other – their gradual integration into the socio-economic relations in a search result models of individual and collective adaptation to a new dynamic environment, characterized by high uncertainty and heterogeneity. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify and describe the main models of population adaptation on an interdisciplinary basis, not limited to an analysis of complex processes within a single field of knowledge. In this regard, the task is to find a way to harmonize (coordinate) different points of view on a nature of a single phenomenon. The object of our research is a variety of adaptation processes of a population to dynamically changing conditions of its life. At the same time, the subject should be a wide range of different types of interactions between a population and an external environment, as well as a population “within itself”, as part of the model of its adaptation to changing conditions. To achieve the goal and solve problems, a set of methods that complement each other is used, namely: theoretical analysis and synthesis, systematization and comparative analysis. As a result, it was found that population adaptation is a rather complex phenomenon, the study of which goes far beyond the formal framework of any one field of knowledge, being at their intersection, which requires the search for new approaches that allow integrating explanations of the nature of phenomena that are currently interpreted within their paradigms. The article presents the main types of models of population adaptation to dynamically changing socio-economic conditions of life, their features, identity and differences, as well as areas of application
Russian-Iranian prospects for cooperation in the energy sector
Authors:   University of Tehran, Barari Reykandeh Kh. , Zeleneva I. ,   Saint-Petersburg State University
Published: March 2021

In recent years the role of geo-economic factors in international relations has become more prominent. Energy resources in particular are one of the important elements of the geopolitical power of countries. Russia and Iran are both two such examples of being globally recognized as important energy producers with huge oil and gas reserves that compete amongst themselves and other producers in the global energy market. However, in many circumstances competitors also need to collaborate and work together when it comes to their common interests. This article examines the possibility of Iranian-Russian cooperation in the energy sector. Taking into account particularly the “shale revolution”, the development of the LNG industry and the unilateral actions of the United States in the world energy market, this study will argue and emphasize that the cooperation and coordination of actions between Iran and Russia in the global energy sector has become more urgent and prominent. In addition to interaction within the framework of the GECF and OPEC, such issues as Russia’s participation in the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project, the energy security of the Caspian Sea, the exchange of electricity through the Caucasus, i. e.  the creation of electric network between Russia - Azerbaijan - Iran or between Russia - Georgia - Armenia - Iran, as well as the development of Iran’s cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union in the energy sector are also factors that can lead to the development of the Russian-Iranian- relations and the strengthening of stability and security in the region
Lübecker Bürgermeister Johan Wittenborch, hingerichtet 1363
Authors: Stefke Gerald
Published: March 2021

Lübecker Bürgermeister Johan Wittenborch, hingerichtet 1363. Über Leben und Tod, Geschäftsmoral und Amtsethos eines Hansichen Kaufmanns und Ratsherrn im Zeitalter von Schwarzem Tod und städtischen Kriegen gegenWaldemar Atterdag. Auch ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Politik und des Kredits im „Haupt der Hansestädte"
Einmal Rostock - Malmö und zurück
Authors: Ellmers Detlev
Published: March 2021

Einmal Rostock - Malmö und zurück. Die Abrechnung einer Seereise aus dem Jahr 1375.
Stopinch und Markt
Authors: Höller Klaus Albert
Published: March 2021

Stopinch und Markt. Hansekaufleute aus Breckerfeld und Umgebung.
Hugo Stehkämpfer (1929-2010)
Authors: Henn Volker
Published: March 2021

Nachruf auf Hugo Stehkämpfer
"Homines imperii" und "osterlinge".
Authors: Jahnke Carsten
Published: March 2021

Carsten Jahnke - „Homines imperii“ und „osterlinge“. Selbst- und Fremdbezeichnungen hansischer Kaufleute im Ausland am Beispiel Englands, Flanderns und des Ostseeraumes im 12. und 13. Jahrhundert
Hanse und Reich.
Authors: Puhle Matthias
Published: March 2021

Matthias Puhle - Hanse und Reich. Rezeptionsgeschichte im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert
Rughenorde, ein Umschlagplatz der Hansezeit im heutigen Friedrichskoog
Authors: Bracker Jörgen
Published: March 2021

Jörgen Bracker - Rughenorde, ein Umschlagplatz der Hansezeit im heutigen Friedrichskoog
Bermudadreieck Nordsee.
Authors: Huang Angela , Jahnke Carsten
Published: March 2021

Angela Huang und Carsten Jahnke - Bermudadreieck Nordsee. Drei Hamburger Schiffe 1481 auf dem Weg nach London
Staatlichen Zölle - Portorium und Lizent - in den Städten den schwedischen Ostseeprovinzen
Authors: Küng Enn
Published: March 2021

State Duties - Portorium and Licence - in the Towns of the Swedish Baltic ProvincesThe early modern mercantilist state focused on developing and exercising control over industrial and agricultural production as well as engaging in economic activities involving internal and external trade while collecting taxes and customs duties in order to fill the treasury. In the 16th-17th centuries, rapidly developing Sweden was no exception. It was in constant need of funds to support its growing bureaucratic apparatus and its army. From 1561, additional funds had to be allocated to retain and govern its expanding overseas territories. Trade and agriculture were Sweden’s principal source of income from its Baltic provinces. Therefore, it was deemed important to create an environment conducive to trade in order to generate greater tax and custom s revenues for the state. The customs tariffs of the Baltic Sea towns as well as the common customs system in Tallinn, Narva and Nyen arose from the state’s interest in bringing Western European andRussian trade back to the Baltic Sea.The aim of the article is to look rnore closely at the state duties - portorium and licence fees, plus oktroy and Anlage duties in Riga - levied on goods in the ports of the Baltic provinces of the Swedish realm, mainly Estonia, Livonia and Ösel (Saaremaa). The archival sources used in this study are the published and unpublished laws of the Swedish central authorities and the customs and account books which survive from the 17th Century. Of these, the most important ones were special customs and license ledgers from Estonia, Livonia, Ingria and Ösel in which the state receipts for licence duties and portorium from Riga, Tallinn, Narva, Nyen, Pärnu, Haapsalu and Kuressaare were registered. Separate Anlage duty records were kept in Riga. From the early 1630s, the account books of the governorates (ledgers, verifications and journals) also included state customs receipts, but each province was considered as a whole, without distinguishing separate towns. Data on portorium receipts can also be found in the town council archives, as the state ceded a third or even half of the customs receipts to the local town councils.Customs duties constituted one-third of the state’s revenues in the province of Estonia and one half or more in Livonia. The most important state customs were the portorium and licence duty (and the Anlage duty in Riga). While portorium was gencrally divided equally with the town where it was collected, licence duty was retained by the state in its entirety. Lesser duties were collected under the name Ungelder, and theamount and volume o f these increased over time. Generally, portorium duty brought in less revenue than licence duty. Sea customs tariffs, whichoften differed from town to town, formed a complex System. From 1648, only Tallinn, Narva and Nyen constituted a common customs region with lower customs tariffs than in Riga and Pärnu.
Bishopsgate und die Hansischen Rechte in London
Authors: Jenks Stuart
Published: March 2021

Bishopsgate and the Rights of the Hansards in LondonEvery Hanseatic scholar is well acquainted with the agreement reached in 1282 between the City of London and the North German merchants resident there, since it is the first known document which refers to those traders as the ’merchants of the German Hanse’. While the road leading to the agreement has been analyzed by Fryde, scholars have paid no attention at all to the role the document played in subsequent centuries, although they occasionally mention that the agreement required the Hanseatic Kontor to repair and maintain Bishopsgate, one of the seven gates of the medieval City of London. This scholarly indifference is unwarranted. In fact, the Hanseatic Kontor explicitly described the agreement of 1282 as 'the foundation of our Privileges in the City of London’ (1462) and was scrupulous in maintaining Bishopsgate. The City itself was, in retrospect, less happy with the agreement, and tried again and again to exact local excises from the Hansards, notably scavage (a tax on merchandise entering and leaving the City whose proceeds were earmarked for paving and cleaning the streets), only to be rebuffed with the argument that the 1282 agreement’s blanket guarantee of ’all their liberties hitherto enjoyed reasonably’ applied to scavage. However, the tables turned in 1418, when the City and its Sheriffs, under the tutelage of John Carpenter, from 1417 common clerk of London and the Compiler of the Liber Albus (1419), employed historical and legal arguments of considerable sophistication to dispute the Hansards’ contentions. After seven years of inconclusive argument before King’s Council (and increasing pressure from the City), the Hansards caved in and agreed (1427) to pay a lump sum annually to the Mayor and Sheriffs to enjoy their ancient rights in the City of London. Nonetheless, they continued to disburse substantial funds for the upkeep and. indeed, for a splendid renovation of Bishopsgate (1479/80) which excitecl the admiration of John Stow, author of a famous description of London, in the late 16th Century.
Städte an Zuiderzee und IJssel auf den Hansetagen
Authors: Henn Volker
Published: March 2021

This article deals with the representation of the towns along the southern and eastern coasts of the former Zuiderzee and the River IJssel at the Hanseatic Diets between 1367, when Harderwijk, Elburg, and Kampen first attended, and 1507. Out of 102 assemblies in that period the Zuiderzee and IJssel towns’ delegates took part in 57. Unluckily, the extant sources provide little information on the course of the debates and the influence the councillors from the Zuiderzee and IJsseltowns might have exerted on the deliberations. Better documented are the numerous regional Diets which were held in order to prepare for the general gatherings. These regional meetings were convened in order to sound out the opinions of the regional Hanse towns and to decide on practical courses of action. This regional co-operation attained formal recognition when in 1447 a Tohopesate (a military alliance of Hanse towns) was signed, one which created an entirely new Hanseatic Quarter, uniting towns from the eastern Netherlands, the Rhine region and Westphalia, with Deventer and Nimwegen (Nijmegen) as conveners. Since taking part in the Hanseatic Diets and influencing its decisions was predicated on being a member of the Hanse, the exact status of Zwolle and Kampen is a crucial question, since both formally applied for ‘readmission’ to the Hanse in the first half of the 15th century. However, ‘readmission’ is a misleading term, since Zwolle and Kampen had long been part of the Hanse. It would seem that they were interested in a merely formal acknowledgement of their membership, even if their reasons are difficult to fathom. In the case of Kampen trade in Bergen might have been a factor. More importantly, these re-admissions to the Hanse occurred at a time when the towns of Holland were beginning to disengage from the Hanse and emerge as its competitors. This forced the Zuiderzee and IJssel towns to take sides. They managed to remain in favour with the Hanse, without breaking off commercial relations with Holland. This turned out rather well for the Hanse in general and for the towns. Thus, the Zuiderzee- and IJsseltowns functioned as a hinge (Bert Looper) between Holland and the Hanse. Once again, we see that the interplay of regional independence and common solidarity was an essential characteristic of the Hanse.
Meaning, Happiness, and Misery – an Inquiry into Philosophy’s Scope and Limitations
Authors: Amir Lydia
Published: March 2021

Publikacije u filozofijskoj praksi ponekad se referiraju na ulogu koju su filozofi imali kao liječnici duše i nastavno na to smatraju da bi praktički filozofi morali njegovati tu ulogu. Sto i pedeset godina nakon rođenja znanstvene psihologije, ta bi se tvrdnja trebala ponovno razmotriti i nađe li se manjkavom, moguća uloga filozofije među psihologijskim doktorima duše trebala bi se razjasniti. Stoga ovaj rad razmatra aktualnu korisnost filozofije za pojedince, diferencirajući četiri-pet glavnih puteva njene upotrebljivosti danas.
Sceptical Doubts – Raising the Standards or Changing the Angle?
Authors: Pavličić Jelena
Published: March 2021

Cilj je rada istražiti dva različita razmatranja mehanizama putem kojim se mijenjanju epistemički standardi, kao osnova za objašnjenje toga kako argumenti za radikalni skepticizam stječu svoje naličje legitimnosti i snage uvjerljivosti. Rasprava započinje predstavljanjem argumenata za pogled o tome da naša epistemička praksa sadrži mehanizam koji podiže epistemičke standarde, da bi se predočilo kako skeptičke hipoteze čine izazove istinosnim vrijednostima naših svakidašnjih tvrdnji iz znanja. Zatim se rasprava premješta na kritiku s ciljem pokazivanja da pristup podizanja standarda nije adekvatan jer se ne dotiče doista radikalnog oblika filozofijskog skepticizma. Ispitujemo alternativno razmatranje promjene epistemičkih standarda, mijenjanje kuta proučavanja, u skladu s kojim su epistemički standardi tumačeni kao uvjetovani disciplinarnim poljem unutar kojeg se istraživanje provodi. Nakon toga, uspoređujemo dva istaknuta pristupa na osnovi njihove uspješnosti u osiguravanju odgovarajućeg objašnjenja stvarne epistemičke prakse. Završavamo dokazivanjem u korist potonjeg pristupa, kao superiornije koncepcije te kao obećavajućeg okvira za objašnjenje fenomenologije naše uključenosti u filozofijski skepticizam. Završno, postavit ćemo neka pitanja vezana uz oba pristupa.
Estudios multirreferenciales sobre educación y currículo
Authors: Arroyave Giraldo Dora Inés
Published: March 2021

"Sin duda, la multirreferencialidad representa una de las más importantes estrategias con las que los profesores cuentan para reconstruir y transformar las teorías y prácticas educativas y curriculares, y en consecuencia, los aprendizajes de los estudiantes. Los textos compilados en esta obra pretenden servir como guía didáctica para la reflexión crítica y propositiva del quehacer docente, y suministrar una bibliografía especializada en torno a tres aspectos: epistemologías emergentes, pedagogías latinoamericanas y educación del siglo XXI. Este libro se dirige a quienes forman y se forman como docentes, a quienes ejercen esta profesión o la gestión de instituciones educativas, y a investigadores interesados en el tema. Los autores del libro pertenecen al programa de Doctorado en Ciencias de la Educación de la Facultad de Educación de la Universidad de San Buenaventura – Medellín."
Capital structure, firm value and managerial ownership: Evidence from East African countries
Authors: Doorasamy Mishelle
Published: March 2021

East African firms are experiencing economic growth and are attracting foreign investment in the form of equity capital and loans. However, there are concerns about whether the structure of the capital and managerial ownership of these firms can influence their growth. The study examined the relationship between capital structure and firm value in East African countries and how managerial ownership influences this relationship. Sixty-five (65) listed firms in East Africa were selected for the study. The study employed a GMM estimation technique. The evidence showed that leverage has a significantly negative impact on the value of firms in East Africa, suggesting that higher debt would result in a decrease of firm value. The implication of this result is that firms can increase their value by reducing their leverage level. Moreover, the study found that managerial ownership had an inverse and significant impact on the relationship between leverage and firm value. The conclusion is that leverage decreases the value of firms in East Africa. Another conclusion is that owner-managers can use debt capital more effectively to increase firm value than non-owner managers. The implication of this result is that firms managed by owners can borrow more for their operations because it would increase the value of the firms. This study is the first to examine how managerial ownership moderates the relationship between capital structure and the value of firms in East Africa, which has a unique political, social, cultural and economic environment.