bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“GESTALT CULTUROLOGY”: CONCEPTUALIZATION, DISCIPLINARY STATUS AND HISTORY OF RESEARCH
Authors:   St. Petersburg State Institute of Culture, Leonov Ivan V. , Solovеva Vaida L. ,   Herzen State Pedagogical University, Hallbeck David ,   Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Published: February 2021

The article is devoted to the delineation of the subject framework and conceptualization of ge-stalt culturology as an independent scientific direction, that can unite many spheres of knowledge, including theories that have no clearly expressed disciplinary status, or are characterized as “distinc-tive” and “original”. The basis of this direction are proceedings of O. Spengler, oriented to the organic approach of Goethe, in which the problem of peculiarities of perception and uniqueness of representa-tions of reality within separate cultures is put as core. Developing this problem, Spengler carried out a detailed and thorough analysis of gestalts of the world of various “cultural organisms”, devoting the greatest part of the “The decline of the West”. Also considered as fundamental the work of H. von Ehrenfels, which became a kind of foundation for the formation of gestalt psychology. Special attention is paid to the works of G.D. Gachev, who worked in Spengler’s tradition and created a series of books devoted to the disclosure of the specifics of the “national images of the world”. The basic parameters of the invariant of the world images, allowing to compare gestalts, born in the space of different cultures, are designated. The text raises the question of interrelations between psychology and culturology in the field of Gestalt-researchers. The specificity of their subject frameworks and intersec-tion points, making cooperation of these sciences in the study area prospective, are shown. Attention is paid to the sphere of exploration of “multilayered” artifacts, material structures and “semantic aura” of which reflect signs of influence of many periods of history. These complex monuments appear as a kind of historical and cultural gestalts that require special methods of study, conservation practices, restoration and exhibiting. The works of T. Kuhn in the field of philosophy of science, the essential aspects of which are based on the understanding of paradigms as a kind of gestalts, in a special way “refractive” reality for the scientific community, are touched upon. The text considers several author’s concepts and basic scientific spheres, intersecting with the subject field of gestalt culturology, among which is distinguished the theory of sociocultural dynamics of P.A. Sorokin, engaged in the analysis of mental structures of different types of culture; cultural-historical psychology, including a whole range of researchers in this field; cultural-intellectual history; cognitive culturology, etc. Attention is paid to the prospects for the development of gestalt culturology in modern science. The text outlines the prob-lem of an adequate translation into Russian of the scientific term “gestalt”, what makes, in fact, all attempts to monosyllabic translation of this term insufficient.
REPEATING AS A METHOD OF FORMATION IN A MUSIC WORK
Authors:   Tomsk State University (Tomsk, Russian Federation), Prikhodovskaya Ekaterina , Miroshnikov Nikita ,   Tomsk State University (Tomsk, Russian Federation)
Published: February 2021

Repeatability is one of the main elements of communicating thoughts in music, so it is important to determine the quantity and quality of repeatabilities to analyze the form. We have many possible classifications of musical forms, where the moment of repeatability is reflected. However, the infinite number of possible repetitions of the same musical material makes it difficult to differentiate this aspect most accurately. At the moment there is no any classification of musical forms which would has a subtly differentiated gradation of the element of repeatability. Therefore, it is important to create a universal tool that would accurately describe this aspect in the composition. This article presents the results of a study of the influence of various methods of varying musical material on the recognition of repeated fragments of the composition. A formula is also derived that allows you to show the degree of repetition in the product in numerical terms. This will allow you to compare musical compositions in numerical terms, which will greatly facilitate the work of theorists and practitioners for whom this aspect is important. This formula is a dynamic tool, since its coefficients can be changed when conducting a more valid and extensive study. They can also be formed based on meta-analysis data. It is in this dynamism that we see the novelty and superiority of this formula over static classifications.
Failure-based sealing reliability analysis considering dynamic interval and hybrid uncertainties
Authors: Sun Bo , Yang Xi , Ren Yi , Wang Zili , Antosz Katarzyna , Loska Andrzej , Jasiulewicz-Kaczmarek Małgorzata
Published: February 2021

In the reliability analysis of a sealing structure, radial clearance of the contact surface is usually regarded as a failure criterion, and the sample size is usually quite small, which brings great challenges to uncertainty quantification. Therefore, this paper proposes a reliability analysis method based on the leakage mechanism of the sealing. With the application of dynamic interval, the proposed method can be used to deal with problem of degradation in small sample to evaluate reliability. Moreover, the dynamic reliability with the mixture of the probabilistic and non-probabilistic variables can be obtained using the proposed method. An illustrative numerical case study of a spool valve is conducted in order to validate the proposed method and the implemented reliability sensitivity analysis. The proposed method is of great help in evaluating and predicting reliability with small degradation sample and hybrid uncertainties.
Yetiştirme sıklığının Toros sediri fidanlarının dikim başarısına etkisi
Authors: GÜNER Şükrü Teoman , GÜNER Dilek , ŞAHİN Uğur
Published: February 2021

Ağaçlandırma çalışmalarının başarısında fidan kalitelisi oldukça önemlidir. Fidan kalitesi üzerinde etkili olan etmenlerden biri ise ekim yastıklarında sıklığın düzenlenmesidir. Bu çalışma, yetiştirme sıklığının Toros sediri fidanlarının dikim başarısına etkisini ortaya koymak amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırmada, Isparta-Kapıdağ orijinli tohumlar, Eskişehir Orman Fidanlığında 15 cm aralıklarla oluşturulan 7 ekim çizgisine sahip yastıklara 2015 yılında ekilmiştir. Kontrol ( ̴ 1,5); 2,5; 5,0; 7,5 ve 10,0 cm mesafe ile yetiştirilen fidanlar, 2+0 yaşına geldiğinde yastıktan sökülerek Eskişehir-Mihalıççık yöresindeki yarı kurak ve yarı nemli iklim özelliklerine sahip iki sahaya 3×2 m aralık-mesafe ile dikilmiştir. Denemede raslantı parselleri deneme deseni uygulanmış ve deneme üç yinelemeli olarak kurulmuştur. Dikimi takiben 1., 2. ve 3. gelişme dönemi sonunda fidan yaşama yüzdeleri yanında boy ve kök boğazı çapı ölçümleri yapılmış, ayrıca nispi çap ve boy artımları da hesaplanmıştır. Veriler varyans analizi ve Duncan testi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Farklı sıklıkta yetiştirilen fidanların arazideki yaşama yüzdeleri arasında anlamlı bir farklılık belirlenememiştir. Ancak, fidan boyu ve kök boğazı çapı gelişimi ile nispi boy ve çap artımları bakımından farklı sıklıkta yetiştirilen fidanlar arasında önemli farklılıklar bulunmuştur. Genel olarak yetiştirme sıklığındaki azalış ile çap ve boy gelişimi artmış, nispi çap ve boy artımı ise azalış göstermiştir. Elde edilen veriler, fidanlıklarda birim alandan dikime elverişli fazla sayıda fidan üretme gerekliliği ve 3. gelişme dönemi sonundaki boy farkları dikkate alındığında, yarı kurak alan ağaçlandırmalarında, fidanlıkta 15,0×2,5 cm aralık-mesafeyle (232 fidan/m2) fidan yetiştirmenin uygun olacağı söylenebilir.
Comparative Study between Membrane Bioreactor MBR and Rotating Biological Contactors RBC for Greywater Treatment
Authors:   with the College of Engineering, University of Business and Technology UBT, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Abdelkader Amr M.
Published: February 2021

Greywater is the major part of water consumption in houses. Greywater should be treated to complying with the specifications for several purposes such as toilet flush, landscaping irrigation, and agriculture. The treatment efficiency of both MBR and RBC systems was investigated by using a verified mathematical model. The simulation program GPS-X (version 6.0) was used to simulate both MBR and RBC systems. The simulation model for biological treatment for both MBR and RBC systems is based on Activated Sludge Model 1 (ASM1). The experimental data for model calibration and verification for the MBR system were taken from experimental work done at Tubitak, Marmara Research Center, Turkey ATASOY. As well as the RBC proposed model was verified also by using RBC experimental results for a pilot plant according to BABAN. The RBC pilot plant consists of three units, The first is the RBC unit, the second unit is the settling tank and the last unit is the disinfection tank. The results of the MBR plant showed that the removal efficiencies of the greywater were: 95% for COD; 95% for BOD5; 96% for TKN; 92% for NH4+ and 99% for TSS. Whereas, the results of the RBC show that, The BOD efficiency removal was ranged between about 93.0 to 96.0 %, and for the total SS removal was ranged between 84.0 to 95.0 %. The MBR system provides complete nitrification and suspended solid removal. The RBC system provides less nitrification process and suspended solid removal. The effluent of the rotating biological contactors units for the greywater could be reused after filtration and disinfection with minimal cost of operation. The effluent of the membrane bioreactor unit needs only disinfection before reuse.
Comparison of healing patterns of different side-cut angulations after FS-LASIK
Authors:   Xi’an No.1 Hospital; Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology; Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases of Shaanxi Province, First Affiliated Hospital of Northwestern University, Xi’an 710002, Shaanxi Province, China, Wei Wei , Shen Di ,   Xi’an No.1 Hospital; Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology; Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases of Shaanxi Province, First Affiliated Hospital of Northwestern University, Xi’an 710002, Shaanxi Province, China, Wang Xiao-Rui ,   Xi’an No.1 Hospital; Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology; Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases of Shaanxi Province, First Affiliated Hospital of Northwestern University, Xi’an 710002, Shaanxi Province, China, Ji Yu-Qiang ,   Xi’an No.1 Hospital; Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology; Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases of Shaanxi Province, First Affiliated Hospital of Northwestern University, Xi’an 710002, Shaanxi Province, China, Zhang Chang-Ning ,   Xi’an No.1 Hospital; Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology; Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases of Shaanxi Province, First Affiliated Hospital of Northwestern University, Xi’an 710002, Shaanxi Province, China
Published: February 2021

AIM: To investigate and evaluate healing patterns around flaps made with different side-cut angulations after femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK).
METHODS: Thirty-four patients (68 eyes) received a 90° side-cut (n=34) or a 120° side-cut flaps (n=34) made with a femtosecond laser. One day, 1wk, 1 and 3mo postoperatively, side-cut scar was evaluated under slit-lamp photography according to a new grading system (Grade 0=transparent scar, 1=faint healing opacity, and 2=evident healing opacity). In vivo corneal confocal microscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) were used to observe wound-healing patterns around flap margin in the two groups. Sirius Scheimpflug Analyzer was also used to analyze higher order aberrations 3mo after surgery.
RESULTS: There were no significant differences in flap wound-healing patterns at each follow up between the two groups (P>0.05). Three months after surgery, the flap edge scar classified as Grade 0 had excellent apposition and rapid nerve regeneration. At 3 mm and 5 mm pupil diameters, there were significant differences in trefoil aberrations between the two groups (P<0.05), but no statistically significant differences were found in total higher order aberrations (HOAs), spherical aberrations or coma in any of the pupil size conditions (P>0.05).
CONCLUSION: Flap edge scars classified as Grade 0 have excellent apposition and rapid nerve regeneration, and 120° side-cut angle flaps induce less trefoil aberrations after FS-LASIK.
Clinical observations of acute onset of myopic optic neuropathy in a real-world setting
Authors:   Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China; Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Changsha 410015, Hunan Province, China, Liao Li , Fang Fang ,   Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China, Zhu Xiao-Hua ,   Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China; Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Changsha 410015, Hunan Province, China
Published: February 2021

AIM: To describe the clinical features of acute myopic onset of optic neuropathy and observe the effects of retrobulbar and systemic glucocorticoid therapy in a real-world setting.
METHODS: A retrospective observational case series included 18 patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute onset of myopic optic neuropathy in a real-world setting. While the patients were using retrobulbar and systemic glucocorticoid therapy, various imaging examination data were analysed, and the clinical features of myopic optic neuropathy were summarized for 6mo to 2y.
RESULTS: The included group of patients with acute onset of myopic optic neuropathy consisted mostly of females (n=11). The visual field (VF) showed abnormalities in bilateral eyes, including the spread of physiological blind spots, central and paracentral dark spots, and centripetal peripheral VF reduction; but central vision with no subjective changes. The visual evoked potential (VEP) was abnormal in all eyes with vision loss. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was improved from 1.04±0.63 to 0.47±0.57 (logMAR) after glucocorticoid treatment (P<0.05). In patients with a short course (within 1wk), recovery was fast and achieved the same BCVA as recorded before the onset within 6d. However, in patients with the long course (1 to 2wk), recovery was slow and did not achieve the BCVA recorded before the onset within 10d. The changes of intraocular pressure (IOP) were not obvious before and after treatment (18.68±5.30 vs 19.55±5.34 mm Hg, P>0.05). There was no recurrence during long-term follow-up observation.
CONCLUSION: The acute onset of myopic optic neuropathy is characterized by BCVA and VF abnormalities in bilateral eyes. Retrobulbar and systemic glucocorticoid therapy is effective.
Study on Automobile Culture of Developed and Emerging Countries in Asia Using Text Mining Analysis on Social Media
Authors: Joo Yongho , Yoo Gilsang
Published: February 2021

To be successful in the automobile export business, it is essential to accurately identify consumer preferences in developed and emerging countries. In this study, big data were collected and compared using NodeXL to verify differences in automotive preferences caused by differences in living standards, regional characteristics and culture, and related regulations and policies between developed and emerging countries in Asia. The data to be analyzed were collected from Twitter big data on major Asian and emerging countries and cleaned up, and text mining techniques were applied for frequency analysis. Based on this, we predicted the demand for automobiles in emerging countries in the future and derived a way for automakers to efficiently approach the automobile markets of emerging countries. The analysis results are as follows: First, emerging economies are very fond of foreign vehicles that value their confidence and pride but are more price-sensitive and prefer medium-to-small car sedans rather than SUVs. Second, pride and price should be the first marketing considerations when an automotive business enters an emerging country. Third, in emerging economies, if small- and medium-sized cars that fit lower prices are marketed mainly as sedans rather than as SUVs, local consumers will respond well. This study's results are expected to be used as primary data for the localization sales factors necessary in understanding the car preferences of different countries for overseas marketing.
ndividuals and Crowds. Presidential Leadership and Political Scenes of Representation in Media and Networks in Argentina (2008-2019)
Authors: Fernández Mariano , Cingolani Gasón
Published: February 2021

This article offers a comparative analysis of the construction of political scenes of representation by two former Argentine presidents, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (2008-2015) and Mauricio Macri (2015-2019), based on televised speeches and social media postings. As there is no political representation without staging, and any staging needs a material surface for its deployment, the comparative reconstruction of scenes of representation is required for understanding the impact of socio-technological transformations in the political field. Our analysis assumes that the political dramaturgy of representation entails: (a) that the leader must show a way of connecting with his constituents; (b) therefore, the leader must configure a preferred political subject (i.e., a predominant form of figurative citizenry); and (c) that this configuration constitutes a possible portion of the entire population that can be represented. According to our analysis, each leader is associated with a different type of representation scene. While one leader configures her scenes with large-scale crowds and via national television broadcasts, the other configures his encounters with individuals via social media. This engenders two opposing conceptions of citizenry, connectable to two different classes of Interpretants: a political-ideological Interpretant and an un-political and para-ideological one.
First time as a historical driver, second as fantasy: nationalism’s Second Coming and the paradoxes of populism
Authors: Hedetoft Ulf
Published: February 2021

Nationalism is a semiotic system in its own right, pivoting around complex dualisms between people and state. Its associated images cover the entire repertoire of signs, from iconicity over indexicalities to symbolism. Nationalism has brought measurable benefits to lots of people; they feel represented by their elected politicians, and they revel in symbolic abstractions of their ethnic-national identity. At least, this is how the national universe has traditionally been configured. Populism, on the other hand, nationalism’s recently assumed version, introduces a less materialistic and more fantasy-based approach to national belongingness, reversing some of the national imaginary’s ordinary paradoxes. Hence, its sign universe is almost totally dependent on symbols and their arbitrary, non-motivated connection between signifié and signifiant. This contribution aims to uncover some of the paradoxes manifested by populism and its attempts to reinvest nationalism with former glory while revealing liberalism and globalization as a historical hoax. Populism is a commitment to the idealism of the state while in the same process rejecting its reality. It clings to the formal promise of nationalism without recognizing its contradictory nature. And it refuses to accept that the uniformity of the People conceals a real struggle between groups, generations, regions, and classes in the private sphere – and the multiple challenges to their living standards and welfare that provided the origins of their populist reaction. Populism sends its supporters back to where they came from, but with a vengeance.
Sémiotique de la politique et systèmes non verbaux: la relation médias-politiciens grecs au temps de la crise economique
Authors: Kourdis Evangelos
Published: February 2021

During the Greek economic crisis, the European media engaged in a series of press articles, television reports, and press cartoons particularly critical of the behavior of the contemporary Greek and the quality of the politicians who govern him. This attitude intensified during the radical left government of the SYRIZA party from January to August 2015. In this period, the European media engaged in a semiotic devaluation, an unprecedented deconstruction of Greek politicians’ social image of the SYRIZA party’s radical left government. The European Union authorities recorded this deconstruction at the level of the three semiotic codes: that of gesture, that of the dress code, and that of proxemics. This study proposes to analyze in a semiotic approach these choices expressed through polysemiotic texts likely to interpret a conscious manipulation of European public opinion, also introducing uses previously unknown in the political and media culture of Europe.
A ‘semio’ approach to fashion discourse: critical perspectives on the luxury industry
Authors: Provenzano François
Published: February 2021

This book offers rich and clear critical perspectives on the luxury fashion industry and its market mediations. It relies on a multi-layered methodology and deals with a wide variety of materials: texts, images, but also objects, experiences, exhibitions, buildings, interiors. By doing so, Mouratidou demonstrates the unity (in other words: the standard format) of the politics of re-presentation in the luxury fashion industry and the unity of the semio approach she defends. Grounded on the semiotic analysis of discourses (from Greimas to Dondero and Fontanille), this approach includes the numerous insights of the most recent works in Communication studies. The book also offers a fruitful overview of the French tradition of critical works on cultural industries and mediations (from Barthes to Jeanneret); it also sheds light – most appropriately – on this tradition’s Critical Theory background (Benjamin, Adorno & Horkheimer, Debord). In addition, we must also highlight Mouratidou’s terminological creativity. In her case studies, she proposes a range of stimulating theoretical terms, such as re-presentation, semiotic capital, culturalisation, fictivation, event-formula, and others adopted from theatre studies.
Cognitive dynamics
Authors: Tateo Luca
Published: February 2021

The proliferation of disciplinary labels, distinctions, borders, and hierarchies is an interesting semiotic phenomenon per se. In particular, the need to circumscribe a new semiotics field and then denoting it as transdisciplinary appears instead to be an exercise of politics. One cannot but fall into the paradox of any systemic organization, nicely described by Simmel a long time before: By choosing two items from the undisturbed store of natural things in order to designate them as “separate,” we have already related them to one another in our consciousness, we have emphasized these two together against whatever lies between them. And conversely, we can only sense those things to be related which we have previously somehow isolated from one another; things must first be separated from one another in order to be together. (Simmel 1994: 5)
Birleşmiş Milletler Kalkınma Programı Endeksleri ve Gini katsayısı ile sağlık göstergeleri arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi
Authors: ŞANTAŞ Gülcan
Published: February 2021

Amaç: Bu çalışma, Birleşmiş Milletler Kalkınma Programı (UNDP) tarafından
geliştirilen gelişmişlik, eşitsizlik ve yoksulluk gibi olguları ölçmeye yarayan endeksler
ve gelir dağılımında eşitliği ölçmeye yarayan Gini katsayısı ile sağlık değişkenleri
arasında ilişki olup olmadığının belirlenmesi amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yöntem:
Sağlık değişkenleri yaşam beklentisi, mortalite, morbidite, sağlık hizmeti kullanımı
ve sağlık altyapısı ve sağlık sistemi başlıklarıyla gruplanmış 19 değişkenden
oluşmaktadır. Araştırma, Dünya Sağlık Örgütü üyesi 194 ülkeyi kapsamaktadır. Ancak
ülkelerin tamamında UNDP Endeksleri ve Gini katsayısı verileri olmadığı için analizler
verileri tam olan ülkeler üzerinden gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmada UNDP Endeksleri
ve Gini katsayısı verileri UNDP tarafından yayınlanan “2018 İnsani Gelişmişlik
Raporu”ndan, sağlık değişkenlerine ilişkin verilere ise Dünya Sağlık Örgütü veri
tabanı olan “Global Health Observatory (GHO) Data” veri setinden ulaşılmıştır.
Araştırmada korelasyon analizi uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Araştırmanın analizleri
sağlık değişkenleri ile Endeksler ve Gini katsayısı arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı
şekilde orta, yüksek ve çok yüksek korelasyon olduğunu göstermektedir. Çalışma
yüksek gelişmişliğin yüksek sağlık; yüksek yoksulluk ve eşitsizliğin ise yüksek ölüm
oranı ve hastalık ile ilişkili olduğu bulgusuna işaret etmektedir. Sonuç: Çalışma
sonucunda daha fazla gelişmişliğin diğer faydalarının yanında daha iyi sağlık ya da
tersi olarak daha iyi sağlığın daha fazla gelişmişlik anlamına geldiği söylenebilir
PENGEMBANGAN INSTRUMEN JOB SAFETY ANALYSIS PADA WORKSHOP PRAKTIK BATU BETON
Authors: Widiyanti Witri , Saleh Rosmawita , Prihantono Prihantono
Published: February 2021

Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian pengembangan yang bertujuan untuk mengembangkan Job Safety Analysis untuk workshop Praktik Batu Beton di Pendidikan Teknik Bangunan, Fakultas Teknik, Universitas Negeri Jakarta sebagai salah satu upaya dalam meningkatkan Sistem Manajemen Kesehatan dan Keselamatan Kerja (SMK3). Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian Research and Development (R&D) dengan model penelitian pengembangan 4D (Four-D). Pada dasarnya penelitian ini dilakukan melalui 4 tahap, yaitu tahap pendefinisian (define), tahap perencanaan (design), tahap pengembangan (develop), dan tahap penyebaran (disseminate). Namun, penelitian ini hanya sampai pada tahap pengembangan (develop). Penelitian ini menggunakan angket sebagai alat untuk menguji kelayakan melalui validasi oleh ahli materi dan ahli Kesehatan dan Keselamatan Kerja (K3). Hasil penilaian oleh para ahli didapatkan nilai rata-rata 94,90%. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa Job Safety Analysis untuk workshop Praktik Batu Beton di Pendidikan Teknik Bangunan, Fakultas Teknik, Universitas Negeri Jakarta sudah dapat diimplementasikan.
On the issue of choosing vertical and horizontal connections in a bogie for freight cars of high-speed trains
Authors: Gadzhimetov G. I. , Petrov G. I. , Panin Yu. A. , Il’in I. E.
Published: February 2021

To increase the competitive advantages of rail freight transportation, the long-term development program of the Russian Railways provides for an increase in the speed of freight trains. The design speed of freight cars currently operating on the railway network is mainly 120 km/h, and the permitted speed is limited to 90 km/h. One of the possible solutions to the problem is the introduction of freight cars with an increased speed. At JSC “VNIIZHT” and JSC “VNIKTI”, work is being carried out on the selection of structures, the development of safety requirements, theoretical and experimental studies of freight traffic at increased speeds. In 2017—2018 at the Belorechenskaya—Maikop high-speed test range of the North Caucasian Railway, specialists of JSC “VNIIZHT” carried out running tests of a prototype of a platform car for transporting containers with a design speed of 160 km/h, developed by JSC “VNIKTI”. In the design of the platform car, a bogie is used, which is an analogue of the bogie of trailed cars of electric trains ED4 and ED9, with the selection of the stiffness of the springs in the spring suspension steps to comply with the difference in the level of the automatic coupler from the rail head in the “container” and “gross” modes. Analysis of the results of running tests allows determining the ways to improve the design of the bogie. To select design solutions for the purpose of ensuring safety, a review of the studies of domestic scientists aimed at studying the dynamic properties of railway rolling stock with various designs of the carriage part was carried out. Tests were carried out on prototypes of rolling stock having different elastic-dissipative connections in the “body-bogie-wheelsets” system. Based on the results of the analysis, design solutions have been determined that allow achieving satisfactory dynamic qualities for a freight car at a speed of up to 140 km/h. The adopted design solutions were tested on the basis of the results of theoretical studies of the dynamic properties of a platform car with a new bogie, carried out by the method of computer simulation. Increasing the flexibility of the spring suspension and the horizontal connection of the body with the bogie made it possible to improve the dynamic qualities of freight cars. To assess the safety during certification, it is required to develop a standard that would take into account the design features of car bogies, designed for increased speed.
Selection of special vehicle for transportation of perishable freights by rail
Authors: Nabatchikova T. I. , Naumenko S. N. , Kostin A. V. , Gusev G. B.
Published: February 2021

Delivery of perishable freights in proper quality essentially depends on the correct choice of a special vehicle and the correct calculation of the delivery time. According to the requirements of the Rules for the transportation of perishable freights by rail, all special vehicles by January 1, 2022 must obtain certificates of compliance with the standards established by the Agreement on the International Transportation of Perishable Foodstuffs and on special vehicles intended for these transports. This requirement applies to special vehicles used both in international traffic and for transport of perishable freights within the country. The article presents a brief classification of special vehicles used for the transportation of perishable freights. Formulas are given that allow calculating duration of transportation of such freights and average temperature of the outside air along the entire route. Procedure for choosing a special vehicle for the already known duration of freight transportation has been developed. It is concluded that the procedure proposed by the authors allows choosing the optimal special vehicle for the transportation of perishable freights. Using this sequence of calculations makes it possible to take into account the maximum number of external factors that affect the duration of transportation.
Methods for determining the position of the curve in the plan and the influence of the geometry of the track on the indicators of interaction between the track and the rolling stock
Authors: Sidorova E. A. , Vaganova O. N. , Slastenin A. Yu.
Published: February 2021

The article substantiates the necessity of supplementing the existing estimate of the track position in the plan by the difference of adjacent bending arrows with an estimate of deviations from the fixed initial position, which ensures the constancy of the characteristics of a single-radius curve or the components of a multi-radius curve along their entire length. As a fixed initial position of the reference base (base position), it is proposed to accept the design position or the position of the track after the repair performed according to the project, and in the absence of the project, the calculated position obtained using verified programs. The question of determining the values of the deviation of the position of the curves at individual points from the base position and their ranking for different variants of recording the curves is considered. As possible options for surveying are considered Geodetic measurement methods using Cartesian and polar coordinate systems, methods of obtaining information from transformed data from sensors of track measuring cars, as well as the classical method of measuring the arrows of the bend of a curve.The article presents the results of calculating the indicators of the interaction between the track and the rolling stock (frame and horizontal transverse forces, lateral deflections of rails) when modeling the motion of a freight car along curves, the parameters of which were obtained on the basis of analysis of data from experimental sections. The calculation results are correlated with the analyzed data on the presence of deviations from the base position in the curves.
Design and Development Of Lecturer Attendance System Using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
Authors: Sujana Eka Putra I Gede , Lee Anthony , Tirta Mahayana I Made , Agung Wicaksono Dharmayasa I Gede
Published: February 2021

Lecturer attendance record is required by the university to know the presence of lecturers in teaching in class. In general condition, lecturer attendance is recorded on the attendance sheet, or input to web application accessed on a class computer. However, there are some problems in its implementation so that at the end, lecturer presence is carried out using a manual form where the academic staff needs to re-enter the lecturer attendance data into the applications. Based on the above, the authors designed and developed a lecturer attendance information system to record lecturers' attendance using radio frequency identification technology by implementing a near field communication card (NFC Card). The device used to record and read presence data during lectures, by tapping an Mi-fare NFC card to an NFC reader / writer device. The flow of this research method begins with a literature study of NFC card, observe the flow of lecture attendance process and data recorded into lecturer attendance sheet, analyzing the database design, the system design which has compatible with NFC reader and writer devices, designed system interface and continue to develop system. The result is system consists of master data, system attendance, verification and reporting module. The results show that NFC card implementation is more practical for lecturers in conducting lecture attendance and NFC card could be tapped out into an NFC device at a maximum distance up to 7 cm with the reading angle relative to NFC reader/writer with range 00 until 300 can read NFC Card.
A New Tool for Detecting COVID-19 Psychological Burden Among Postacute and Long-term Care Residents (Mood-5 Scale): Observational Study
Authors: Mansbach William E , Mace Ryan A , Tanner Melissa A
Published: February 2021

Background

Older adults are at high risk for developing serious somatic and psychological symptoms associated with COVID-19. Currently available instruments may not be sensitive to the concerns about COVID-19 in postacute and long-term care and their applications in telehealth remain to be clarified.

Objective

We investigated the psychometric properties of the Mood-5 Scale (M5) as a rapid self-assessment of the COVID-19 psychological burden among postacute and long-term care residents.

Methods

Residents (N=131), aged 50 years and above, from 20 postacute and long-term care facilities in Maryland, USA, were evaluated in-person or via telehealth (43/131, 32.8%) across a 4-week period (May 11 to June 5, 2020) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 psychological burden experienced by the residents was rated by geriatric psychologists who independently reviewed their clinical documentation. Psychometric analyses were performed on the M5 in relation to psychological tests, COVID-19 psychological burden, and diagnostic data collected during the evaluation.

Results

The M5 demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach α=.77). M5 scores were not confounded by demographic variables or telehealth administration (P>.08). Convergent validity for the M5 was established via positive associations with anxiety (r=0.56, P<.001) and depressive (r=0.49, P<.001) symptoms. An M5 cutoff score of 3 demonstrated strong sensitivity (0.92) and adequate specificity (0.75) for identifying COVID-19 psychological distress among postacute and long-term care residents (area under the curve of 0.89, positive predictive value=0.79, negative predictive value=0.91).

Conclusions

The M5 is a reliable and valid tool for self-assessment of mood that can help identify postacute and long-term care residents with significant psychological burden associated with COVID-19. It can be completed in less than 1 minute and is appropriate for use in both in-person and virtual visits.
Implementation of Lung Ultrasound in Low-to-Middle Income Countries: a new challenge global health?
Authors: Buonsenso Danilo , Rose Cristina De
Published: February 2021

Pneumonia remains the leading cause of death globally in children under
the age of five. The poorest children are the ones most at risk of
dying. In the recent years, Lung Ultrasound has been widely documented
as a safe and easy tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of pneumonia
and several other respiratory infections and diseases. During the
pandemic, it played a primary role to achieve early suspicion and
prediction of severe COVID-19, reducing the risk of exposure of
healthcare workers to positive patients. However, innovations that can
improve diagnosis and treatment allocation, saving hundreds of thousands
of lives each year, are not reaching those who need them most. In this
paper, we discuss advantages and limits of different tools for the
diagnosis of pneumonia in low-to-middle income countries, highlighting
potential benefits of a wider access to lung ultrasound in these
settings and barriers to its implementation, calling international
organizations to ensure the indiscriminate access, quality and
sustainability of the provision of ultrasound services in every setting.
Rogue waves on the general periodic travelling waves background for an extended modified Korteweg-de Vries equation
Authors: Zhang Yi , Lou Yu , Ye RS
Published: February 2021

Under consideration in this paper is rogue waves on the general periodic
travelling waves background of an integrable extended modified
Korteweg-de Vries equation. The general periodic travelling wave
solutions are presented in terms of the sub-equation method. By means of
the Darboux transformation and the nonlinearization of the Lax pair, we
present the first-, second- and third-order rogue waves on the general
periodic travelling waves background. Furthermore, the dynamic behaviors
of rogue periodic waves are elucidated from the viewpoint of
three-dimensional structures.
Factors Associated with Prompt Recovery among Hospitalized Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019
Authors: Ny Pamela , Kelsom Corey , Chron Amanda , Lou Mimi , Nieberg Paul , Shriner Kimberly , Huse Holly , Wong-Beringer Annie
Published: February 2021

Background: Patients who survived hospitalization for COVID-19
experienced varying durations of illness but the factors associated with
prompt recovery are unknown. This study identifies factors
differentiating hospitalized patients who recovered promptly vs.
survived a prolonged course of illness due to COVID-19. Methods: This
was a retrospective study from March-August 2020 of hospitalized adults
with COVID-19 which were grouped based on time to recovery: short (≤ 3
days), intermediate (4-10 days), and prolonged (>10 days).
Recovery was defined as resolution of fever, tachypnea, hypotension,
extubation and return of mental status at baseline. Multivariate
analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with prompt recovery.
Results: Among 508 patients hospitalized for COVID-19, 401 (79%)
survived. Of those, prompt recovery (within 3 days) was achieved in 43%
(174/401) whereas 23% (92/401) recovered after a prolonged period of
> 10 days. Overall, median age was 64 y with 73% admitted
from home and 25% from a skilled nursing facility. Predictors for
prompt recovery upon admission included female sex (OR, 1.8; 95% CI,
1.1-2.7; p = 0.01), no fever (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.6; p = 0.03),
longer time from symptom onset to hospitalization (OR, 1.1; 95% CI,
1.0-1.1; p = 0.001), no supplemental oxygen (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-3.0;
p = 0.004), no direct ICU admission (OR, 41.7; 95% CI, 2.4-740.4; p =
0.01) and absence of bacterial co-infections (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.5-4.0,
p = 0.0003). Conclusions: Our study provides relevant data that could
help clinicians triage competing resources in health systems that are
challenged by the ebb and flow of COVID-19 cases by identifying clinical
features of COVID-19 patients who may require less intensive management
including avoidance of unnecessary antibacterial therapy.
A Portable Impedance Microflow Cytometer for Measuring Cellular Response to Hypoxia
Authors: Dieujuste Darryl , Qiang Yuhao , Du Sarah
Published: February 2021

This paper presents the development and testing of a low-cost
(< $60), portable, electrical impedance based microflow
cytometer for single cell analysis under controlled oxygen
microenvironment. The system is based on an AD5933 impedance analyzer
chip, a microfluidic chip, and an Arduino microcontroller operated by a
custom Android application. A representative case study on human red
blood cells (RBCs) affected by sickle cell disease is conducted to
demonstrate the capability of the cytometry system. An equivalent
circuit model of a suspended biological cell is used to interpret the
electrical impedance of single flowing RBCs. RBCs exhibit decreased mean
membrane capacitance by 24% upon hypoxia treatment while the mean
cytoplasmic resistance remains consistent. RBCs affected by sickle cell
disease exhibit decreased cytoplasmic resistance and increased membrane
capacitance upon hypoxia treatment. Strong correlations are identified
between the changes in the cells’ subcellular electrical components and
the hypoxia-induced cell sickling process. The results reported in this
paper suggest that the developed method of testing demonstrates the
potential application for low-cost screening technique for sickle cell
disease and other diseases in the field and low-resource settings. The
developed system and methodology can be extended to analyze cellular
response to hypoxia in other cell types.
Risk factors for perioperative blood transfusions after urogenital fistula repair in Uganda: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Potluri Thrisha , Holt Lauren , Tanner Jean Paul , Wasingya Lucien , Duffy Shane , Greene Kristie
Published: February 2021

Objective: To determine the incidence of and risk factors for
perioperative blood transfusions after urogenital fistula repairs in
Uganda. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Setting: A community
hospital in Masaka, Uganda. Population: Women who underwent fistula
repair at the Kitovu Hospital between 2013 and 2019. Methods:
Retrospective review of demographics, and clinical perioperative
characteristics of patients surgically treated for urogenital fistula.
Patient characteristics were compared between those who did and did not
require a blood transfusion. Main Outcome Measures: need for
perioperative blood transfusion, risk factors Results: 546 patients
treated for urogenital fistulas were included in this study. The median
age was 31.1 ± 13.2. A vaginal surgical approach was used in the
majority of patients (84.6%). Complications occurred in 3.5% of
surgical repairs, and the incidence of blood transfusions was 6.2%. In
multivariable analyses, women with fistula repairs approached
abdominally were 4.3 (95% CI: 1.85–10.00) times more likely to require
transfusions than vaginal operations. A borderline association was
observed between timing of repair and perioperative transfusions such
that patients who underwent repair after three months from the time of
developing the fistula were at lower risk of perioperative transfusions
(aOR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.22–1.04). Conclusions: The incidence of blood
transfusions among urogenital fistula repairs in our population is twice
that of developed nations. An abdominal surgical approach to urogenital
fistula is a significant risk factor for perioperative blood
transfusions. Timing of repair may warrant further study.
Squamous cell carcinoma transformation in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Dorji Namkha , Tshering Sangay , Choden Sonam
Published: February 2021

Introduction: Malignant transformation in mature cystic teratoma of
ovary is a rare complication. Case report: A 62-year-old woman was
diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in a mature cystic teratoma of
ovary. Conclusion: Malignant transformation should be suspected in
elderly woman with large mature cystic teratoma of ovary with thickened
wall.
Cardiovascular drugs and COVID-19 clinical outcomes: a living systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Asiimwe Innocent , Pushpakon Sudeep , Turner Richard , Kolamunnage-Dona Ruwanthi , Jorgensen Andrea , Pirmohamed Munir
Published: February 2021

Aims: To continually evaluate the role of cardiovascular drugs in
COVID-19 clinical outcomes. Methods: Eligible publications were
identified from >500 databases on 1-Nov-2020. One reviewer
extracted data with 20% of the records independently
extracted/evaluated by a second reviewer. Results: Of 52,735 screened
records, 429 and 390 studies were included in the qualitative and
quantitative syntheses, respectively. The most-reported drugs were
angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)/angiotensin receptor
blockers (ARBs) with ACEI/ARB exposure having borderline association
with positive COVID-19 status (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.00–1.31). Among
COVID-19 patients, unadjusted estimates showed that ACEI/ARB exposure
was associated with hospitalization (OR 1.76, 1.34–2.32), disease
severity (OR 1.41, 1.27–1.56) and all-cause mortality (OR 1.22,
1.12–1.33) but not hospitalization length (mean difference -0.27,
-1.36; 0.82 days). After adjustment, ACEI/ARB exposure was not
associated with positive COVID-19 status (OR 0.92, 0.71–1.19),
hospitalization (OR 0.93, 0.70–1.24), disease severity (OR 1.05,
0.81–1.38), or all-cause mortality (OR 0.85, 0.71–1.01). Similarly,
subgroup analyses involving only hypertensive patients revealed that
ACEI/ARB exposure was not associated with positive COVID-19 status (OR
0.93, 0.79–1.09), hospitalization (OR 0.84, 0.58–1.22),
hospitalization length (mean difference -0.14, -1.65; 1.36 days),
disease severity (OR 0.92, 0.76–1.11) while it decreased the odds of
dying (OR 0.76, 0.65–0.88). A similar trend was observed for other
cardiovascular drugs. However, the validity of these findings is limited
by a high level of heterogeneity and serious risk of bias. Conclusion:
Cardiovascular drugs are not associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes in
adjusted analyses. Patients should continue taking these drugs as
prescribed.
GATA2 deficiency syndrome: A decade of discovery
Authors: Homan Claire , Venugopal Parvathy , Arts Peer , Shahrin Nur Hezrin , Feurstein Simone , Rawlings Lesley , Lawrence David , Andrews James , King-Smith Sarah , Brown Anna , Scott Hamish , Hahn Christopher
Published: February 2021

GATA2 deficiency syndrome (G2DS) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic
disease predisposing to a range of symptoms of which myeloid malignancy
and immunodeficiency including recurrent infections are most common. In
the last decade since it was first reported, there have been over 465
individuals identified carrying a pathogenic or likely pathogenic
germline GATA2 variant with symptoms of G2DS, with 231 of these
confirmed to be familial and 22 de novo. For those that develop myeloid
malignancy (75% of all carriers with G2DS disease symptoms), the median
age of onset is 17 years (range 0-78 years) and myelodysplastic syndrome
(MDS) is the first diagnosis in 75% of these cases with acute myeloid
leukemia (AML) in a further 9%. All variant types appear to predispose
to myeloid malignancy and immunodeficiency. Apart from lymphedema in
which haploinsufficiency seems necessary, the mutational requirements of
the other less common G2DS phenotypes is still unclear. These
predominantly loss-of-function variants impact GATA2 expression and
function in numerous ways including perturbations to DNA binding,
protein structure, protein:protein interactions, and gene transcription,
splicing and expression. In this review, we provide the first expert
curated ACMG/AMP classification with codes of published variants
compatible for use in clinical or diagnostic settings.