bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Allergens of Regional Importance in Korea
Authors: Jeong Kyoung Yong , Park Jung-Won
Published: March 2021

Allergen repertoire should reflect the region's climate, flora, and dining culture to allow for a better diagnosis. In Korea, tree pollens of oak and birch in the spring in conjunction with weed pollens of mugwort, ragweed, and Japanese hop are the main causes of seasonal allergic rhinitis. More specifically, the sawtooth oak in Korea and the Japanese hop in East Asia make a difference from western countries. Among food allergens, the sensitization to silkworm pupa and buckwheat is also common in Korean patients. Honey bee venom due to apitherapy in traditional medicine and Asian needle ant, Pachycondyla chinensis, are important causes of anaphylaxis in Korea. Climate change, frequent overseas traveling, and international product exchanges make situations more complicated. Ragweed, for example, was not native to Korea, but invaded the country in the early 1950s. Recently, Japanese hop and Asian needle ants have been recognized as important invasive ecosystem disturbing species in western countries. However, the molecular properties of the component allergens from these unique culprit allergens have been poorly characterized. The present review summarizes the molecular studies on the allergens of regional importance in Korea.
Alteration of m6A RNA Methylation in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Zhang Beijian , Xu Yamei , Cui Xiaotong , Jiang Hao , Luo Wei , Weng Xinyu , Wang Yun , Zhao Yuhong , Sun Aijun , Ge Junbo
Published: March 2021

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a heterogeneous disease, in which its pathogenesis is very complex and far from defined. Here, we explored the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation alteration in patients with HFpEF and mouse model of HFpEF.

Methods: In this case–control study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated from peripheral blood samples obtained from 16 HFpEF patients and 24 healthy controls. The change of m6A regulators was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR). A “two-hit” mouse model of HFpEF was induced by a high-fat diet and drinking water with 0.5 g/L of Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). MeRIP-seq was used to map transcriptome-wide m6A in control mice and HFpEF mice, and the gene expression was high-throughput detected by RNA-seq.

Results: The expression of m6A writers METTL3, METTL4, and KIAA1429; m6A eraser FTO; and reader YTHDF2 was up-regulated in HFpEF patients, compared with health controls. Furthermore, the expression of FTO was also elevated in HFpEF mice. A total of 661 m6A peaks were significantly changed by MeRIP-seq. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that protein folding, ubiquitin-dependent ERAD pathway, and positive regulation of RNA polymerase II were the three most significantly altered biological processes in HFpEF. The pathways including proteasome, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway were significantly changed in HFpEF by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis.

Conclusions: The expression pattern of m6A regulators and m6A landscape is changed in HFpEF. This uncovers a new transcription-independent mechanism of translation regulation. Therefore, our data suggest that the modulation of epitranscriptomic processes, such as m6A methylation, might be an interesting target for therapeutic interventions.
Subsampling Technique to Estimate Variance Component for UK-Biobank Traits
Authors: Xu Ting , Qi Guo-An , Zhu Jun , Xu Hai-Ming , Chen Guo-Bo
Published: March 2021

The estimation of heritability has been an important question in statistical genetics. Due to the clear mathematical properties, the modified Haseman–Elston regression has been found a bridge that connects and develops various parallel heritability estimation methods. With the increasing sample size, estimating heritability for biobank-scale data poses a challenge for statistical computation, in particular that the calculation of the genetic relationship matrix is a huge challenge in statistical computation. Using the Haseman–Elston framework, in this study we explicitly analyzed the mathematical structure of the key term tr(KTK), the trace of high-order term of the genetic relationship matrix, a component involved in the estimation procedure. In this study, we proposed two estimators, which can estimate tr(KTK) with greatly reduced sampling variance compared to the existing method under the same computational complexity. We applied this method to 81 traits in UK Biobank data and compared the chromosome-wise partition heritability with the whole-genome heritability, also as an approach for testing polygenicity.
Rapid Landscape Changes in Plastic Bays Along the Norwegian Coastline
Authors: Bastesen Eivind , Haave Marte , Andersen Gidske L. , Velle Gaute , Bødtker Gunhild , Krafft Charlotte Gannefors
Published: March 2021

The Norwegian Coastal Current transports natural debris and plastic waste along the Norwegian coastline. Deposition occurs in so-called wreck-bays and includes floating debris, such as seaweed, driftwood and volcanic pumice, and increasing amounts of plastics during the last decades. Deposition in these bays is controlled by ocean currents, tidal movements, prevailing winds and coastal morphology. We have compared soil profiles, analyzed the vegetation and inspected aerial photos back to 1950 in wreck-bays and defined three zones in the wreck-bays, where accumulation follows distinct physical processes. Zone 1 includes the foreshore deposition and consists of recent deposits that are frequently reworked by high tides and wave erosion. Thus, there is no accumulation in Zone 1. Zone 2 is situated above the high tide mark and includes storm embankments. Here, there is an archive of accumulated debris potentially deposited decades ago. Zone 3 starts above the storm embankments. The debris of Zone 3 is transported by wind from Zone 1 and Zone 2, and the zone continues onshore until the debris meets natural obstacles. Plastic accumulation seems to escalate soil formation as plastic is entangled within the organic debris Mapping and characterizing the soil layers indicates that deep soils have been formed by 50 or more years’ accumulation, while the pre-plastic soil layers are thin. The plastic soil forms dams in rivers and wetlands, changing the shape and properties of the coastal landscape, also altering the microhabitat for plants. This case-study describes an ongoing landscape and vegetation change, evidently co-occurring with the onset of plastic accumulation. Such processes are not limited to the Norwegian coastline but are likely to occur wherever there is accumulation of plastic and organic materials. If this is allowed to continue, we may witness a continued and escalating change in the shape and function of coastal landscapes and ecosystems globally.
Classification of Metastatic and Non-Metastatic Thoracic Lymph Nodes in Lung Cancer Patients Based on Dielectric Properties Using Adaptive Probabilistic Neural Networks
Authors: Lu Di , Yu Hongfeng , Wang Zhizhi , Chen Zhiming , Fan Jiayang , Liu Xiguang , Zhai Jianxue , Wu Hua , Yu Xuefei , Cai Kaican
Published: March 2021

Objective

Dielectric properties can be used in normal and malignant tissue identification, which requires an effective classifier because of the high throughput nature of the data. With easy training and fast convergence, probabilistic neural networks (PNNs) are widely applied in pattern classification problems. This study aims to propose a classifier to identify metastatic and non-metastatic thoracic lymph nodes in lung cancer patients based on dielectric properties.

Methods

The dielectric properties (permittivity and conductivity) of lymph nodes were measured using an open-ended coaxial probe. The Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique method was adopted to modify the dataset. Feature parameters were scored to select the appropriate feature vector using a Statistical Dependency algorithm. The dataset was classified using adaptive PNNs with an optimized smooth factor using the simulated annealing PNN (SA-PNN). The results were compared with traditional Probabilistic, Support Vector Machines, k-Nearest Neighbor and the Classify functions in MATLAB.

Results

The conductivity frequencies of 3959, 3958, 3960, 3978, 3510, 3889, 3888, and 3976 MHz were selected as the feature vectors for 219 lymph nodes (178 non-metastatic and 41 metastatic). Compared with the other methods, SA-PNN achieved the highest classification accuracy (92.92%) and the corresponding specificity and sensitivity were 94.72% and 91.11%, respectively.

Conclusions

Compared with the other methods, the SA-PNN proposed in the present study achieved a higher classification accuracy, which provides a new scheme for classification of metastatic and non-metastatic thoracic lymph nodes in lung cancer patients based on dielectric properties.
Effects of Interleukin-1β in Glycinergic Transmission at the Central Amygdala
Authors: Solorza Jocelyn , Oliva Carolina A. , Castillo Karen , Amestica Gabriela , Maldifassi María Constanza , López-Cortés Xaviera A. , Barra Rafael , Stehberg Jimmy , Piesche Matthias , Sáez-Briones Patricio , González Wendy , Arenas-Salinas Mauricio , Mariqueo Trinidad A.
Published: March 2021

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is an important cytokine that modulates peripheral and central pain sensitization at the spinal level. Among its effects, it increases spinal cord excitability by reducing inhibitory Glycinergic and GABAergic neurotransmission. In the brain, IL-1β is released by glial cells in regions associated with pain processing during neuropathic pain. It also has important roles in neuroinflammation and in regulating NMDA receptor activity required for learning and memory. The modulation of glycine-mediated inhibitory activity via IL-1β may play a critical role in the perception of different levels of pain. The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) participates in receiving and processing pain information. Interestingly, this nucleus is enriched in the regulatory auxiliary glycine receptor (GlyR) β subunit (βGlyR); however, no studies have evaluated the effect of IL-1β on glycinergic neurotransmission in the brain. Hence, we hypothesized that IL-1β may modulate GlyR-mediated inhibitory activity via interactions with the βGlyR subunit. Our results show that the application of IL-1β (10 ng/ml) to CeA brain slices has a biphasic effect; transiently increases and then reduces sIPSC amplitude of CeA glycinergic currents. Additionally, we performed molecular docking, site-directed mutagenesis, and whole-cell voltage-clamp electrophysiological experiments in HEK cells transfected with GlyRs containing different GlyR subunits. These data indicate that IL-1β modulates GlyR activity by establishing hydrogen bonds with at least one key amino acid residue located in the back of the loop C at the ECD domain of the βGlyR subunit. The present results suggest that IL-1β in the CeA controls glycinergic neurotransmission, possibly via interactions with the βGlyR subunit. This effect could be relevant for understanding how IL-1β released by glia modulates central processing of pain, learning and memory, and is involved in neuroinflammation.
Association Between Commute Duration and Sickness Absence in the Context of China: Mechanism and Heterogeneous Effects
Authors: Wang Zicheng , Wu Qiushi , Guo Murong
Published: March 2021

Background:Most employees in urban China have experienced a heavy commuting burden, which has become an urgent issue that should be solved in the new urbanization strategy process. However, the exploration of the relationship between the commute duration and sickness absence remains scant in China, and no direct discussion has been done to analyze the mechanism linking commute duration and sickness absence.

Methods:Using a unique dataset of the 2013 China Matched Employer–Employee Survey, the present study applies a two-level random-intercept Poisson model to explore this association.

Results:A long commute is significantly related with increased sickness absence. A longer commute is associated with poorer self-rated health status and a higher degree of psychological depression, and it is also highly related with a decrease in sleeping time. Moreover, an increased commuting duration is associated with lower work effort (working hours).

Conclusion:Longer commute duration induces lower productivity through increased sickness absence, and the potential link of commute duration and sickness absence is mainly transmitted through health-related outcomes and work effort.
Urban Traffic Optimization Based on Modeling Analysis of Sector-Based Time Variable: The Case of Simulated Ningbo, China
Authors: Cheshmehzangi Ali , Pourroostaei Ardakani Saeid
Published: March 2021

This paper studies the important factor of sector-based time variable, which is critical to urban mobility patterns in an urban environment. In particular, this study analyzes urban traffic optimization based on modeling analysis of a simulated urban environment. In doing so, we develop and assess the urban traffic model based on three key components of agents, urban map, and mobility pattern. We develop an urban sample based on a medium-to-large city in China, which is represented by Manhattan grid pattern layout. By developing a homogeneous urban layout, we distribute the urban blocks of various sectors across the sample model. Through simulation studies, we model urban traffic based on “conventional operation hours” and “proposed operation hours” of all sectors. This urban traffic model is used to study the impact of the proposed approach on urban traffic based on two measured metrics of end-to-end delay (ETE) and Agent queue count (AQC). By suggesting a new sector-based time variable, we then evaluate the urban traffic model based on multiple active agent ratio. The findings from this simulation uncover the importance of sector-based time variable in optimizing urban traffic.
Assessment of Malnutrition and Intestinal Parasitoses in the Context of Crisis-Hit Venezuela: A Policy Case Study
Authors: Mejias-Carpio Isis E. , Paniz-Mondolfi Alberto E. , Mogollon-Rodriguez Euler A. , Delgado-Noguera Lourdes A. , Sordillo Emilia M. , Urbina-Medina Huniades A. , Hayon Jesica , Vetencourt-Pineda Leonardo A. , Perez-Garcia Luis A.
Published: March 2021

Venezuela is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis with a dangerous cocktail of hyperinflation, violence, minimal local food production, and policies that impact the nutrition for millions of Venezuelans. Independent data suggests that most Venezuelans are food insecure, with alarming rates of acute and chronic malnutrition, especially among children. A re-emergence of poverty-related intestinal parasitoses and anemia has aggravated their health. With little to no response from public authorities, Venezuela is now the lowest-ranked country in the world in deworming coverage. Modest independent and private epidemiological studies suggest prevalence rates as high as 60% in some regions. This article reviews public health policies regarding malnutrition and intestinal parasitoses and aims to provide a rational approach based on international recommendations for countries in crisis.
Forensic Geoarchaeology in the Search for Missing Persons
Authors: Barone Pier Matteo , Di Maggio Rosa Maria , Mesturini Silvia
Published: March 2021

Despite widespread concern over missing persons, there has always been little clarity on what the word “missing” means. Although the category of young runaways is, indeed, an important cluster, other popular concepts related to disappearances describe a portion of missing persons. Thus, the following question persists: What exactly does “missing” mean? In this brief communication, we would like to open a discussion about the social phenomenon of missing persons and the consequent deployment of people and techniques to find those persons. In particular, the benefits of some forensic geoarchaeological approaches that are not yet fully standardized will be highlighted, such as geographic profiling and the use of multispectral satellite images, in order to provide materials for future searching protocols.
Chordoma—Current Understanding and Modern Treatment Paradigms
Authors: Barber Sean M. , Sadrameli Saeed S. , Lee Jonathan J. , Fridley Jared S. , Teh Bin S. , Oyelese Adetokunbo A. , Telfeian Albert E. , Gokaslan Ziya L.
Published: March 2021

Chordoma is a low-grade notochordal tumor of the skull base, mobile spine and sacrum which behaves malignantly and confers a poor prognosis despite indolent growth patterns. These tumors often present late in the disease course, tend to encapsulate adjacent neurovascular anatomy, seed resection cavities, recur locally and respond poorly to radiotherapy and conventional chemotherapy, all of which make chordomas challenging to treat. Extent of surgical resection and adequacy of surgical margins are the most important prognostic factors and thus patients with chordoma should be cared for by a highly experienced, multi-disciplinary surgical team in a quaternary center. Ongoing research into the molecular pathophysiology of chordoma has led to the discovery of several pathways that may serve as potential targets for molecular therapy, including a multitude of receptor tyrosine kinases (e.g., platelet-derived growth factor receptor [PDGFR], epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR]), downstream cascades (e.g., phosphoinositide 3-kinase [PI3K]/protein kinase B [Akt]/mechanistic target of rapamycin [mTOR]), brachyury—a transcription factor expressed ubiquitously in chordoma but not in other tissues—and the fibroblast growth factor [FGF]/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase [MEK]/extracellular signal-regulated kinase [ERK] pathway. In this review article, the pathophysiology, diagnosis and modern treatment paradigms of chordoma will be discussed with an emphasis on the ongoing research and advances in the field that may lead to improved outcomes for patients with this challenging disease.
Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of Mesoporous NiMn2O4 Nanoparticles as an Anode for Lithium-Ion Battery
Authors: Rajoba Swapnil J. , Kale Rajendra D. , Kulkarni Sachin B. , Parale Vinayak G. , Patil Rohan , Olin Håkan , Park Hyung-Ho , Dhavale Rushikesh P. , Phadatare Manisha
Published: March 2021

NiMn2O4 (NMO) is a good alternative anode material for lithium-ion battery (LIB) application, due to its superior electrochemical activity. Current research shows that synthesis of NMO via citric acid-based combustion method envisaged application in the LIB, due to its good reversibility and rate performance. Phase purity and crystallinity of the material is controlled by calcination at different temperatures, and its structural properties are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Composition and oxidation state of NMO are further investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). For LIB application, lithiation delithiation potential and phase transformation of NMO are studied by cyclic voltammetry curve. As an anode material, initially, the average discharge capacity delivered by NMO is 983 mA·h/g at 0.1 A/g. In addition, the NMO electrode delivers an average discharge capacity of 223 mA·h/g after cell cycled at various current densities up to 10 A/g. These results show the potential applications of NMO electrodes for LIBs.
Consolidation and Tow Spreading of Digitally Manufactured Continuous Fiber Reinforced Composites from Thermoplastic Commingled Tow Using a Five-Axis Extrusion System
Authors: Bourgeois Mark E. , Radford Donald W.
Published: March 2021

During the development of digitally manufactured, commingled tow continuous fiber reinforced composites, consolidation force was controlled using a controlled spring force that yielded a repeatable tow width. However, the use of the extruder face to consolidate the material requires that the extruder remain perpendicular to the placement surface throughout the process. When considering more complex tool contours including sloped surfaces, more than three axes of motion are necessary to maintain the perpendicularity of the extruder tip to the surface. In this effort, a five-axis system is developed and used to demonstrate the ability to consolidate over complex contours. In addition, the nozzle face temperatures required for good consolidation and wetout result in poor tow path fidelity when complex paths are introduced. The implementation of an automated, computer-controlled localized cooling system enables both good wetout and consolidation while also enabling more accurate changes in tow path due to improvements in local tow tack. With the development of the five-axis system it is also shown that the tow width can be adjusted by rotating the existing placement nozzle to angles not equal to 90°. Thus, through a combination of controlled localized cooling and real-time control of the nozzle angle, a possible approach to control of tow width, independent of the tow placement angle and radius of curvature during tow steering, is described.
Housing Market in the Time of Pandemic: A Price Gradient Analysis from the COVID-19 Epicentre in China
Authors: Cheung Ka Shing , Yiu Chung Yim , Xiong Chuyi
Published: March 2021

While the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease has caused asset markets to experience an unprecedented spike of risk and uncertainty worldwide, the real estate market in many global cities appears to be immune to the adverse effects. How does COVID-19 affect urban housing markets? This study is a first attempt to identify the pandemic’s impact on house prices by applying a price gradient analysis to the COVID-19 epicentre in China. Considering microlevel housing transaction data in 62 areas from nine districts in Wuhan City from January 2019 to July 2020, the hedonic pricing and the price gradient models suggest that there was, respectively, a 4.8% and a 5.0–7.0% year-on-year fall in house prices immediately after the pandemic outbreak. Although house prices rebounded after the lockdown period, the gradient models show that the price gradients were flattened from the epicentre to the urban peripherals. The price premiums in high-density areas were also substantially discounted after the city’s lockdown. Our findings are robust to different model specifications. The implication is that the risk associated with the pandemic is localised and transitory in nature. People may be able to internalise the risk by residing in low-density residential areas.
From the Digital Data Revolution toward a Digital Society: Pervasiveness of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Emmert-Streib Frank
Published: March 2021

Technological progress has led to powerful computers and communication technologies that penetrate nowadays all areas of science, industry and our private lives. As a consequence, all these areas are generating digital traces of data amounting to big data resources. This opens unprecedented opportunities but also challenges toward the analysis, management, interpretation and responsible usage of such data. In this paper, we discuss these developments and the fields that have been particularly effected by the digital revolution. Our discussion is AI-centered showing domain-specific prospects but also intricacies for the method development in artificial intelligence. For instance, we discuss recent breakthroughs in deep learning algorithms and artificial intelligence as well as advances in text mining and natural language processing, e.g., word-embedding methods that enable the processing of large amounts of text data from diverse sources such as governmental reports, blog entries in social media or clinical health records of patients. Furthermore, we discuss the necessity of further improving general artificial intelligence approaches and for utilizing advanced learning paradigms. This leads to arguments for the establishment of statistical artificial intelligence. Finally, we provide an outlook on important aspects of future challenges that are of crucial importance for the development of all fields, including ethical AI and the influence of bias on AI systems. As potential end-point of this development, we define digital society as the asymptotic limiting state of digital economy that emerges from fully connected information and communication technologies enabling the pervasiveness of AI. Overall, our discussion provides a perspective on the elaborate relatedness of digital data and AI systems.
The Relationship between the Glenohumeral Joint Internal Rotation Deficit and the Trunk Compensation Movement in Baseball Pitchers
Authors: Cheng Shih-Chung , Wan Ting-Yu , Chang Chun-Hao
Published: March 2021

Background and objectives: Glenohumeral joint internal rotation deficit (GIRD) is commonly observed in the dominant arm of baseball pitchers and is limited by horizontal adduction motions. We inferred that when pitchers’ generation of internal shoulder rotation and horizontal adduction activity is limited, they may generate compensation movements in other body parts. This study aims to investigate whether pitchers with GIRD generates trunk compensation during pitching where pitching targets were on the lower corner of their non-dominant side. Design: Case-control study. Setting: Elite senior high school baseball. Participants: Twenty-five senior high school baseball pitchers participated in this study. Twelve pitchers with GIRD were assigned to the experiment group, and the remaining 13 participants to the control group. Main outcome measures: Glenohumeral internal/external rotation of both arms and internal/external rotation of the bilateral hip joints were measured. The kinematic values of the trunk when pitching to a target were measured using high-speed infrared cameras. Results: Pitchers with GIRD exhibited significantly greater upper trunk rotation toward the non-dominant side when a baseball was released from their hand (27.39 ± 6.62 degrees), compared with non-GIRD pitchers (20.42 ± 5.97 degrees) (p < 0.05). The total rotation of the pivot leg of pitchers with GIRD (67.54 ± 7.84 degrees) was significantly smaller than that of pitchers without GIRD (74.00 ± 7.07 degrees) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: GIRD in the dominant arm affected upper trunk rotation during pitching and was associated with the hip range of motion. Future studies could conduct a longitudinal study regarding the relationship between GIRD and other joint injuries of the lower limbs.
Millennial-Scale Environmental Variability in Late Quaternary Deep-Sea Sediments from the Demerara Rise, NE Coast of South America
Authors: Lund Steve , Platzman Ellen
Published: March 2021

We carried out a rock magnetic study of two deep-sea gravity cores from the Demerara Rise, NE South America. Our previous studies provided radiocarbon and paleomagnetic chronologies for these cores. This study presents detailed rock magnetic measurements on these cores in order to characterize the rock magnetic mineralogy and grain size as indicators of the overall clastic fraction. We measured the magnetic susceptibility, anhysteretic remanence, and isothermal remanence and demagnetized the remanences at several alternating field demagnetization levels. The magnetic intensities estimate the magnetic material concentration (and indirectly the overall clastic fraction) in the cores. Ratios of rock magnetic parameters indicate the relative grain size of the magnetic material (and indirectly the overall clastic grain size). Rock magnetic intensity parameters and rock magnetic ratios both vary systematically and synchronously over the last 30,000 years in both cores. There is a multi-millennial-scale cyclicity, with intervals of high magnetic intensity (high magnetic and clastic content) with low magnetic ratios (coarser magnetic and clastic grain size), alternating in sequence with intervals of low magnetic intensity with high magnetic ratios (finer grain size). There is also a higher-frequency millennial-scale variability in intensity superposed on the multi-millennial-scale variability. There are nine (A–I) multi-millennial-scale intervals in the cores. Intervals A, C, E, G, and I have high magnetic and clastic content with coarser overall magnetic and clastic grain size and are likely intervals of enhanced rainfall and runoff from the NE South American margin to the coastal ocean. In contrast, intervals B, D, F, and H have lower clastic flux with finer overall grain size, probably indicating lower continental rainfall and runoff. During the Holocene, high rainfall and runoff intervals can be related to cooler times and low rainfall and runoff to warmer times. The opposite pattern existed during the Pleistocene, with higher rainfall and runoff during interstadial conditions and lower rainfall and runoff during stadial conditions. We noted a similar pattern of Pleistocene multi-millennial-scale variability in a transect of deep-sea sediment cores along the NE Brazilian margin, from the Cariaco Basin (~10 N) to the NE Brazilian margin (~1° N–4° S). However the NW part of this transect (Cariaco Basin, Demerara Rise, Amazon Fan) has an out-of-phase relationship with the SE part of the transect (NE Brazilian margin) between warm–cold and wet–dry conditions. One possible cause of the high–low rainfall and runoff patterns might be oscillation of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), with higher rainfall and runoff associated with a more southerly average position of the ITCZ and lower rainfall and runoff associated with a more northerly average position of the ITCZ.
Factors Affecting Quality of Life in Liver Transplant Candidates: An Observational Study
Authors: López-Lazcano Ana , López-Pelayo Hugo , Gual Antoni , Lligoña Anna , Vilas-Riotorto Vanessa , Caballeria Elsa , Bruguera Pol , Pintor Luis
Published: March 2021

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) before and after liver transplant (LT) is an important outcome in LT candidates as, in these patients, HRQOL is commonly impaired. However, evidence regarding factors that influence HRQOL in patients with end-stage liver disease is inconclusive. The aim of the present study was to identify factors associated with poor HRQOL. An observational study was conducted over LT candidates. The 36-item Short Form Health Survey (widely used to assess HRQOL) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were administered to 211 patients during the pre-transplant assessment. Baseline demographic and clinical data were also collected. Multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate risk factors for poor HRQOL. Female sex (lower B = 7.99 95%C = 0.07–15.92, higher B = 18.09 95%CI = 7.56–28.62), encephalopathy (lower B = −9.45, 95%CI = −14.59–−4.31, higher B = −6.69, 95%CI = −13.13 to −0.25), higher MELD scores (lower B = −1.14, 95%CI = −1.67 to −0.61, higher B = −0.33, 95%CI = −0.65 to −0.12), anxiety (lower B = −3.04 95%C = −4.71 to −1.36, higher B = −1.93 95%CI = −3.39 to −0.47)and depression (lower B = −3.27 95%C = −4.46 to −2.08, higher B = −1.02 95%CI = −1.90 to −0.13) symptoms were associated to poorer HRQOL. Psychosocial interventions should be addressed to liver transplant candidates, especially to women, patients with anxiety, depression or episodes of encephalopathy, in order to prevent the impact that these conditions can have on HRQOL.
State of Charge Estimation of Lithium-Ion Battery for Electric Vehicles Using Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Chandran Venkatesan , Patil Chandrashekhar K. , Karthick Alagar , Ganeshaperumal Dharmaraj , Rahim Robbi , Ghosh Aritra
Published: March 2021

The durability and reliability of battery management systems in electric vehicles to forecast the state of charge (SoC) is a tedious task. As the process of battery degradation is usually non-linear, it is extremely cumbersome work to predict SoC estimation with substantially less degradation. This paper presents the SoC estimation of lithium-ion battery systems using six machine learning algorithms for electric vehicles application. The employed algorithms are artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), linear regression (LR), Gaussian process regression (GPR), ensemble bagging (EBa), and ensemble boosting (EBo). Error analysis of the model is carried out to optimize the battery’s performance parameter. Finally, all six algorithms are compared using performance indices. ANN and GPR are found to be the best methods based on MSE and RMSE of (0.0004, 0.00170) and (0.023, 0.04118), respectively.
Parameters of the treatment adherence in periodontal patients
Authors: Dzyuba E. V. , Nagaeva M. O.
Published: March 2021

Relevance. The level of the patient adherence significantly influences the effectiveness of the treatment. Aim – to determine the level of adherence to the doctor’s recommendations and prescriptions in periodontal patients. Materials and methods. 360 periodontal patients of both sexes and different ages filled in a questionnaire to quantitatively assess the treatment adherence, outlined in 1st Russian consensus on the quantitative assessment of the treatment adherence, 2017. The adherence to the therapy, medical management, life style changes and the overall treatment adherence were determined. Results. The low level of the overall treatment adherence was revealed in 36% of the questioned subjects. The adherence to the life style changes was significantly low in almost all patient groups, thus, determining the low level of adherence to treatment. Only patients over 60 showed a higher adherence to all doctor’s recommendations. Male patients demonstrated a lower level of the overall adherence as well as adherence parameters separately. Conclusion. The adherence evaluation allows customizing the approach to the selection of the recommendations and treatment schemes according to a patient adherence level as well as determining possible ways of adjustment of the motivation level.
Evaluation of hemomicrocirculation of periodontal tissues in localized periodontitis of traumatic etiology
Authors: Smirnova A. V. , Semiglazova Iu. F. , Kuzmina D. A.
Published: March 2021

Relevance. The necessity of somatic health evaluation in patients with local inflammatory periodontal processes is determined by frequent relapses of the periodontal diseases. Low effectiveness of the widespread treatment methods and the lack of long-term remission of the disease is caused by the insufficient assessment Based on the clinical examination, diagnosis and laboratory tests, to determine the correlation between the somatic pathology and adaptability of the adult body in patients with localized periodontitis due to trauma. Materials and methods. Advanced examination was carried out in 169 subjects, aged 45-75 y.o., with mild to moderate localized periodontitis due to trauma. The somatic condition was assessed by laboratory and functional tests. Results. 1-2 somatic diseases were revealed in 39.3% of patients with mild localized periodontitis caused by trauma (periodontal pocket depth up to 4 mm). 3 and more comorbidities were detected in 35.3% of patients. Gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular diseases, allergic conditions, anemiа and respiratory diseases were most frequently encountered. In moderate localized periodontitis caused by trauma and periodontal depth of 4-6 mm, 23.9% of patients had 1-2 comorbidities, while 62.7% of patients had 3 and more diseases. Gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular diseases, anemia, allergic conditions and urogenital diseases were more frequent. A strong correlation was revealed between the type of adaptive reaction and the degree of localized periodontitis caused by trauma. Thus, the risk of moderate localized traumatic periodontitis development increases by 1.8 times in tense adaptive reaction, and by 3.45 times - in poor adaptation reaction. Conclusion. Functional condition of the body adaptability, which is essential for the development of the treatment strategy, could be determined by the evaluation of the physical condition, peripheral blood tests (entropy of WBC differential, C-reactive protein) in patients with localized periodontitis caused by trauma. The adaptive reaction tension and decrease were detected in patients with 3 or more comorbidities.
ПИТАННЯ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ СОЦІАЛЬНОГО ДІАЛОГУ В УКРАЇНІ КРІЗЬ ПРИЗМУ ПРАВОВОГО РЕГУЛЮВАННЯ ЙОГО ПРИНЦИПІВ
Authors: Головань Т. Г.
Published: March 2021

Метою наукової статті є дослідження питань правового врегулювання принципів соціального діалогу в Україні з точки зору можливості їх ефективної практичної реалізації. Автор акцентує увагу на необхідності належного нормативно-правового врегулювання принципів соціального діалогу в Україні. Адже дотримання та реалізація принципів всіма учасниками соціального діалогу на практиці дозволить досягти означеноївизначеної мети, соціальний діалог стане дієвим інструментом розвитку соціальнотрудових відносин, дозволить запобігти появі та ефективно вирішувати вже наявне широке коло проблем у сфері праці. Автором обrрунтована неефективність реалізації норм Закону України «Про соціальний діалог в Україні» та наявність недостатнього дослідження питань принципів соціального діалогу в Україні. Автор статті дійшов висновку щодо необхідності проведення подальших наукових досліджень у сфері соціального діалогу в Україні, доопрацювання та внесення змін до Закону України «Про соціальний діалог в Україні», що дозволить досягти прогресивних змін у становленні інституту соціального діалогу та досягненні його мети.
СВОБОДА ВОЛІ СТОРІН ТРУДОВОГО ДОГОВОРУ ПРИ ЙОГО ЗМІНІ ЯК КАТЕГОРІЯ, ЩО ВИСТУПАЄ ПРОВІДНИКОМ ДО СТАБІЛЬНОСТІ ТРУДОВИХ ПРАВОВІДНОСИН
Authors: Фатєєв Я. В.
Published: March 2021

Метою статті є характеристика свободи волі сторін трудового договору як категорії, що є провідником до стабільності трудових правовідносин. Розглядаючи наукові дослідження з питань зміни трудового договору, автор наголошує, що в умовах необхідності прийняття нового кодифікованого акта, що врегулює відносини у сфері найманої праці, головний акцент має бути зроблено на вирішенні питань свободи волі сторін у зміні трудового договору таким чином, щоб віднайти баланс їхніх інтересів. Відстоюється позиція, що зміна трудового договору є правовою конструкцією, яка має за мету вдосконалення організації виробництва й праці. Робиться висновок, що свобода волі сторін трудового договору як провідник на шляху до стабільності трудових правовідносин характеризується збігом векторів бачення цих суб’єктів на зміст нових умов їхньої взаємодії
ОСНОВНІ НАПРЯМИ ВДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ ПРАВОВОГО РЕГУЛЮВАННЯ ЖИТЛОВОГО ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ ПОЛІЦЕЙСЬКИХ В УКРАЇНІ З УРАХУВАННЯМ ЗАРУБІЖНОГО ДОСВІДУ
Authors: Москаленко О. В.
Published: March 2021

У статті здійснено аналіз особливостей житлового забезпечення працівників поліції у європейських раїнах. Досліджено особливості здійснення оренди, а також набуття права власності на житло працівниками поліції у Франції, Польщі та Литовській Республіці. Запропоновано конкретні шляхи адаптації позитивного досвіду зазначених країн у сфері житлового забезпечення працівників поліції у реаліях України.
ПРАВОВА РЕГЛАМЕНТАЦІЯ ЗЛОЧИНІВ ПРОТИ ОСНОВ НАЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ БЕЗПЕКИ (ДЕРЖАВИ) ТА ПОКАРАНЬ ЗА ЇХНЄ ВЧИНЕННЯ В ПЕРШІ РОКИ РАДЯНСЬКОЇ ВЛАДИ
Authors: Єна І. О.
Published: March 2021

Метою статті є проведення історико-правового аналізу порядку правового регулювання злочинів та покарань проти основ національної безпеки (держави) з моменту становлення радянської влади і в перші роки розвитку радянської правової системи.
ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR PURCHASING, SALES, AND SERVICE (CASE STUDY OF PT. GM MOTOR PONTIANAK)
Authors: Natalia Ita , Lisnawanty Lisnawanty , Ardiyansyah Ardiyansyah
Published: March 2021

PT. GM Motor Pontianak is a company engaged in the sale and service of motorbikes. Service transaction data processing and motorbike sales are still managed in a simple way, namely recording transactions into a ledger and copied to Microsoft Excel for recapitulation or report presentation. The main problem that becomes an obstacle for the company is that the admin as a transaction data processor often makes mistakes and delays in making a recapitulation of monthly sales transactions, as well as errors in making financial reports. Therefore, this study discusses the design of an accounting information system that provides facilities to two users, namely the Admin and the Director. The admin can manage account data, spare part brands, spare part data, mechanical data, tariff data, account data, spare part purchase transactions, spare part sales transactions, service transactions, sales, and expense transactions. The director can process user data, access spare part stock reports, purchase reports, sales reports, service reports, mechanical incentive reports, general journal reports, general ledger reports, trial balance reports, and income statements. The system built is expected to help PT. GM Motor Pontianak in managing purchases, sales, and service transactions and producing financial reports in accordance with financial accounting standards.
Consecuencias de los cambios políticos en la gestión de programas de un organismo público provincial
Authors:   , Marín Gustavo Horacio
Published: March 2021

La presente tesis analiza las consecuencias que tiene la alternancia política en los cargos de la estructura del Ministerio de Salud del gobierno de la provincia de Buenos Aires. En esta institución se estudiaron los cambios acaecidos en cada cargo del organigrama desde su responsable máximo (Ministro) hasta los referentes de sus principales programas, en el lapso de los últimos 20 años. Para cada programa, se determinó la eficacia en términos de cumplimiento de objetivos propuestos de manera cuatrimestral (cantidad de beneficiarios atendidos, entrega de insumos, transferencia de fondos, etc.) y el grado de asociación entre dichos datos y el recambio o estabilidad de las personas que ocuparon cargos o funciones en la estructura ministerial en dicho período (desde el Ministro hasta los responsables de Programa). Los resultados obtenidos muestran que existieron grandes fluctuaciones en el grado de cumplimiento de los objetivos de cada programa analizado, y que tanto los beneficiarios atendidos, los insumos entregados a los pacientes bajo programa o las transferencia de fondos por prestaciones realizadas, se reducen notablemente cuando cambiaron los responsables los programas, mientras no se modifica si el cambio ocurría en los Directores de Línea, Directores Provinciales, Sub-Secretarios o Ministro. Los resultados del trabajo aportan precisiones en torno a las fluctuaciones en la eficacia de cada programa sanitario a lo largo de 20 años, el lapso en el cual esta eficacia se vio modificada, la coexistencia o no de estos cambios de eficacia con cada alternancia política, y con los reemplazos de autoridades y funcionarios de gobierno en sus diferentes niveles.
Islam and Democracy
Authors: Ahmad Ahrar
Published: March 2021

This paper challenges the popular perception that Islam and democracy are incompatible, and argues that the lack of democracy in some Muslim countries is not because of Islam but in spite of it. This argument will be developed in two stages. First, it will consider the legal–ethical order embedded in Islam’s text (the Qur’an) and tradition (prophetic example) to consider the democratic implications inherent in that construction. Second, it will explore three “high periods” of Islamic rule to consider their progressive, inclusive, and democratic tendencies. It will suggest that the current problems of democracy experienced by many Muslim countries are not necessarily caused by factors intrinsic to Islam, but by forces external to those areas.
Justifying Islamophobia
Authors: Allen Christopher
Published: March 2021

Immediately prior to the events of 9/11, the United Nations (UN) officially recognized the proliferating climate of anti- Muslim and anti-Islamic prejudice, discrimination, and hatred –Islamophobia – as being as equally repellent and unwanted as anti-Semitism and other global discriminatory phenomena. The 9/11 tragedy, however, somewhat overshadowed this recognition, resulting in the continued proliferation of anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic sentiment and expression. This study explores how and why Islamophobia was manifested following 9/11, contextualizes how elite voices across British and European societies have considered Islamophobia to be fair and justified. In considering the wider findings of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia’s monitoring of Islamophobia, this study explores how “visual identifiers” have underpinned changes in attitude and reactions to Muslims across the fifteen European Union (EU) member nations at a largely pan-European level. The second section develops these ideas, analyzing three of the report’s primary themes – Muslim visuality, political landscapes (incorporating institutional political elites as well as grassroots politics), and the media – each one approached from the perspective of the United Kingdom. This study concludes by suggesting that 9/11 has made Islamophobia more acceptable, which has enabled its expressions, inferences, and manifestations to locate a newer and possibly more prevalent societal resonance and acceptability. Ultimately, this new development goes some way to justifying Islamophobia and negating the UN’s recognition of this problem.
After 9/11
Authors: Abbas Tahir
Published: March 2021

In light of the events of 9/11 and the subsequent actions and reactions on the part of nation-states in the West and “terrorists” in the East, this paper discusses the concepts of Islamophobia (political and media-manufactured) and multiculturalism in the British context. Rising Islamophobia, state actions, and media reactions to 9/11 have led to changing definitions of the “good multicultural society.” British Muslims are caught in a quagmire: Their loyalties are questioned by a society and polity that is still in the processes of establishing its “Englishness” from its “Britishness,” while growing Islamic political radicalism undermines the already precarious relations between British Muslims and the state.
Theological and Intellectual Roots in Deobandi Thoughts
Authors: Siddiqui Atif Suhail
Published: March 2021

This article focuses on one of the important books of Muḥammad Qāsim Nānawtawī—Ḥujjat al-Islām. Many of his 32 books, epistles and letters are written in response to Christian and Hindu missionaries. From the perspective of neo-ʿilm al-kalām (Islamic scholastic theology) they have great importance. These are the works through which a lay reader can understand Nānawtawī’s methodology in polemics and his various dialectical aspects, which are based on propositional logic and pragmatic philosophy and differ from the early discourses of ʿilm al-kalām. Most of his works include his critiques and strong refutation of both Christian theological anthropology and Hindu mythology. This article examines a limited part of Nānawtawī’s dialectic discussions which include the existence of God, His essence, meaning of the monotheism, including evidence in support of monotheism and his refutation of the Trinity.
Elastic constant of dielectric nano-thin films using three-layer resonance studied by picosecond ultrasonics
Authors: Fukuda Hiroki , Nagakubo Akira , Ogi Hirotsugu
Published: March 2021

Elastic constants and sound velocities of nm order thin films are essential for designing acoustic filters. However, it is difficult to measure them for dielectric thin films. In this study, we use a three-layer structure where a dielectric nano-thin film is sandwiched between thicker metallic films to measure the longitudinal elastic constant of the dielectric film. We propose an efficiency function to estimate the optimal thicknesses of the components. We use Pt/NiO/Pt three-layer films for confirming our proposed method. The determined elastic constant of NiO deposited at room temperature is smaller than the bulk value by ∼40%. However, it approaches the bulk value as the deposition temperature increases. We also reveal that the uncertainty of the elastic constant of the Pt film insignificantly affects the accuracy of the determined elastic constant of NiO in this structure.