bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Studying the Impact of the Temperature and Sorbed Water during Microwave-Induced In Situ Amorphization: A Case Study of Celecoxib and Polyvinylpyrrolidone
Authors: Hempel Nele-Johanna , Knopp Matthias M. , Löbmann Korbinian , Berthelsen Ragna
Published: June 2021

Microwave-induced in situ amorphization of a drug into a polymeric amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) has been suggested to follow a dissolution process of the drug into the polymeric network, at temperatures above the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer. Thus, increasing the compact temperature, above the Tg of the polymer, is expected to increase the rate of drug dissolution in the mobile polymer, i.e., the rate of amorphization, in a direct proportional fashion. To test this hypothesis, the present study aimed at establishing a linear correlation between the compact temperature and the rate of drug amorphization using celecoxib (CCX) and the polymers polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) 12 and PVP17 as the model systems. Water sorbed into the drug–polymer compacts during 2 weeks of storage at 75% relative humidity was used as the dielectric heating source for the present drug amorphization process, and therefore directly affected the compact temperature during exposure to microwave radiation; the loss of water during heating was also studied. For this, compacts prepared with 30 wt% CCX, 69.5 wt% PVP12 or PVP17 and 0.5 wt% magnesium stearate (lubricant) were conditioned to have a final water content of approx. 20 wt%. The conditioned compacts were exposed to microwave radiation for 10 min at variable power outputs to achieve different compact temperatures. For compacts containing CCX in both PVP12 and PVP17, a linear correlation was established between the measured compact end temperature and the rate of drug amorphization during 10 min of exposure to microwave radiation. For compacts containing CCX in PVP12, a fully amorphous ASD was obtained after 10 min of exposure to microwave radiation with a measured compact end temperature of 71 °C. For compacts containing CCX in PVP17, it was not possible to obtain a fully amorphous ASD. The reason for this is most likely that a fast evaporation of the sorbed water increased the Tg of the conditioned drug–polymer compacts to temperatures above the highest reachable compact temperature during exposure to microwave radiation in the utilized experimental setup. Supporting this conclusion, evaporation of the sorbed water was observed to be faster for compacts containing PVP17 compared to compacts containing PVP12.
Cell-Penetrating Peptides: Applications in Tumor Diagnosis and Therapeutics
Authors: Stiltner Jeffrey , McCandless Kayla , Zahid Maliha
Published: June 2021

Since their identification over twenty-five years ago, the plethora of cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) and their applications has skyrocketed. These 5 to 30 amino acid in length peptides have the unique property of breaching the cell membrane barrier while carrying cargoes larger than themselves into cells in an intact, functional form. CPPs can be conjugated to fluorophores, activatable probes, radioisotopes or contrast agents for imaging tissues, such as tumors. There is no singular mechanism for translocation of CPPs into a cell, and therefore, many CPPs are taken up by a multitude of cell types, creating the challenge of tumor-specific translocation and hindering clinical effectiveness. Varying strategies have been developed to combat this issue and enhance their diagnostic potential by derivatizing CPPs for better targeting by constructing specific cell-activated forms. These methods are currently being used to image integrin-expressing tumors, breast cancer cells, human histiocytic lymphoma and protease-secreting fibrosarcoma cells, to name a few. Additionally, identifying safe, effective therapeutics for malignant tumors has long been an active area of research. CPPs can circumvent many of the complications found in treating cancer with conventional therapeutics by targeted delivery of drugs into tumors, thereby decreasing off-target side effects, a feat not achievable by currently employed conventional chemotherapeutics. Myriad types of chemotherapeutics such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, antitumor antibodies and nanoparticles can be functionally attached to these peptides, leading to the possibility of delivering established and novel cancer therapeutics directly to tumor tissue. While much research is needed to overcome potential issues with these peptides, they offer a significant advancement over current mechanisms to treat cancer. In this review, we present a brief overview of the research, leading to identification of CPPs with a comprehensive state-of-the-art review on the role of these novel peptides in both cancer diagnostics as well as therapeutics.
Stretchable and Transparent Metal Nanowire Microelectrodes for Simultaneous Electrophysiology and Optogenetics Applications
Authors: Tian Jinbi , Lin Zexu , Chen Zhiyuan , Obaid Sofian N. , Efimov Igor R. , Lu Luyao
Published: June 2021

Recently developed optically transparent microelectrode technology provides a promising approach for simultaneous high-resolution electrical and optical biointerfacing with tissues in vivo and in vitro. A critically unmet need is designing high-performance stretchable platforms for conformal biointerfacing with mechanically active organs. Here, we report silver nanowire (Ag NW) stretchable transparent microelectrodes and interconnects that exhibit excellent electrical and electrochemical performance, high optical transparency, superior mechanical robustness and durability by a simple selective-patterning process. The fabrication method allows the direct integration of Ag NW networks on elastomeric substrates. The resulting Ag NW interface exhibits a low sheet resistance (Rsh) of 1.52–4.35 Ω sq−1, an advantageous normalized electrochemical impedance of 3.78–6.04 Ω cm2, a high optical transparency of 61.3–80.5% at 550 nm and a stretchability of 40%. The microelectrode arrays (MEAs) fabricated with this approach exhibit uniform electrochemical performance across all channels. Studies on mice demonstrate that both pristine and stretched Ag NW microelectrodes can achieve high-fidelity electrophysiological monitoring of cardiac activity with/without co-localized optogenetic pacing. Together, these results pave the way for developing stretchable and transparent metal nanowire networks for high-resolution opto-electric biointerfacing with mechanically active organs, such as the heart.
Artificial Neural Network Model of Soil Heat Flux over Multiple Land Covers in South America
Authors: de Andrade Bruno César Comini , Pedrollo Olavo Correa , Ruhoff Anderson , Moreira Adriana Aparecida , Laipelt Leonardo , Kayser Rafael Bloedow , Biudes Marcelo Sacardi , dos Santos Carlos Antonio Costa , Roberti Debora Regina , Machado Nadja Gomes , Dalmagro Higo Jose , Antonino Antonio Celso Dantas , Lima José Romualdo de Sousa , de Souza Eduardo Soares , Souza Rodolfo
Published: June 2021

Soil heat flux (G) is an important component for the closure of the surface energy balance (SEB) and the estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) by remote sensing algorithms. Over the last decades, efforts have been focused on parameterizing empirical models for G prediction, based on biophysical parameters estimated by remote sensing. However, due to the existing models’ empirical nature and the restricted conditions in which they were developed, using these models in large-scale applications may lead to significant errors. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the ability of the artificial neural network (ANN) to predict mid-morning G using extensive remote sensing and meteorological reanalysis data over a broad range of climates and land covers in South America. Surface temperature (Ts), albedo (α), and enhanced vegetation index (EVI), obtained from a moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS), and net radiation (Rn) from the global land data assimilation system 2.1 (GLDAS 2.1) product, were used as inputs. The ANN’s predictions were validated against measurements obtained by 23 flux towers over multiple land cover types in South America, and their performance was compared to that of existing and commonly used models. The Jackson et al. (1987) and Bastiaanssen (1995) G prediction models were calibrated using the flux tower data for quadratic errors minimization. The ANN outperformed existing models, with mean absolute error (MAE) reductions of 43% and 36%, respectively. Additionally, the inclusion of land cover information as an input in the ANN reduced MAE by 22%. This study indicates that the ANN’s structure is more suited for large-scale G prediction than existing models, which can potentially refine SEB fluxes and ET estimates in South America.
The Joint UAV-Borne Magnetic Detection System and Cart-Mounted Time Domain Electromagnetic System for UXO Detection
Authors: Mu Yaxin , Xie Wupeng , Zhang Xiaojuan
Published: June 2021

For unexploded O=ordnance (UXO) detection, individual technology cannot achieve the best detection performance. The new detection mode of joint magnetic and electromagnetic method has attracted more and more attention. In this paper, a newly developed joint detection system is introduced, a multi-rotor UAV-based magnetic system (UAVMAG) and a cart-based time-domain electromagnetic detection system (TDEM-Cart) are combined, and the cooperative processing of magnetic field and electromagnetic data is proposed. The result of the joint inversion fuses the feature vector retrieved from the magnetic field data and the feature vector inverted from the electromagnetic data, providing more accurate positioning results and richer information, which is favorable to locate and distinguish the UXO. Two field experiments are conducted, and the results show that when the joint system works in the full-coverage survey mode, both ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic metal targets can be detected, avoiding missed detections. In addition, when the joint system works in the cued survey mode, the detection efficiency is improved, the positioning accuracy of joint interpretation is less than 10 cm, and it shows satisfactory performance in the recognition of targets.
Circularly Polarized Hybrid Dielectric Resonator Antennas: A Brief Review and Perspective Analysis
Authors: Nalanagula Rajasekhar , Darimireddy Naresh K. , Kumari Runa , Park Chan-Wang , Reddy R. Ramana
Published: June 2021

Recently, it has been a feasible approach to build an antenna, in view of the potential advantages they offer. One of the recent trends in dielectric resonator antenna research is the use of compound and hybrid structures. Several considerable investigations have been already underway showing quite interesting and significant features in bandwidth, gain, and generation of circular polarization. A critical review on a journey of circularly polarized hybrid dielectric resonator antennas is presented in this article. A general discussion of circular polarization and DR antennas are provided at the forefront. Evolution, significant challenges, and future aspects with new ideas in designing hybrid dielectric resonator antennas are indicated at the end of the review. State-of-the-art advances and associated design challenges of circularly polarized hybrid DR antennas and related empirical formulas used to find resonance frequency of different hybrid modes produced are discussed in this paper.
A Virtual Instrument for Measuring the Piezoelectric Coefficients of a Thin Disc in Radial Resonant Mode
Authors: Jiménez Francisco Javier , González Amador M. , Pardo Lorena , Vázquez-Rodríguez Manuel , Ochoa Pilar , González Bernardino
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we describe and present a Virtual Instrument, a tool that allows the determination of the electromechanical, dielectric, and elastic coefficients in polarised ferroelectric ceramic discs (piezoceramics) in the linear range, including all of the losses when the piezoceramics are vibrating in radial mode. There is no evidence in the recent scientific literature of any automatic system conceived and implemented as a Virtual Instrument based on an iterative algorithm issued as an alternative to solve the limitations of the ANSI IEEE 176 standard for the characterisation of piezoelectric coefficients of thin discs in resonant mode. The characterisation of these coefficients is needed for the design of ultrasonic sensors and generators. In 1995, two of the authors of this work, together with other authors, published an iterative procedure that allowed for the automatic determination of the complex constants for lossy piezoelectric materials in radial mode. As described in this work, the procedures involved in using a Virtual Instrument have been improved: the response time for the characterisation of a piezoelectric sample is shorter (approximately 5 s); the accuracy in measurement and, therefore, in the estimates of the coefficients has been increased; the calculation speed has been increased; an intuitive, simple, and friendly user interface has been designed, and tools have been provided for exporting and inspecting the measured and processed data. No Virtual Instrument has been found in the recent scientific literature that has improved on the iterative procedure designed in 1995. This Virtual Instrument is based on the measurement of a unique magnitude, the electrical admittance (Y = G + iB) in the frequency range of interest. After measuring the electrical admittance, estimates of the set of piezoelectric coefficients of the device are obtained. The programming language used in the construction of the Virtual Instrument is LabVIEW 2019®.
Research on Blind Super-Resolution Technology for Infrared Images of Power Equipment Based on Compressed Sensing Theory
Authors: Wang Yan , Wang Lingjie , Liu Bingcong , Zhao Hongshan
Published: June 2021

Infrared images of power equipment play an important role in power equipment status monitoring and fault identification. Aiming to resolve the problems of low resolution and insufficient clarity in the application of infrared images, we propose a blind super-resolution algorithm based on the theory of compressed sensing. It includes an improved blur kernel estimation method combined with compressed sensing theory and an improved infrared image super-resolution reconstruction algorithm based on block compressed sensing theory. In the blur kernel estimation method, we propose a blur kernel estimation algorithm under the compressed sensing framework to realize the estimation of the blur kernel from low-resolution images. In the estimation process, we define a new Lw norm to constrain the gradient image in the iterative process by analyzing the significant edge intensity changes before and after the image is blurred. With the Lw norm, the salient edges can be selected and enhanced, the intermediate latent image generated by the iteration can move closer to the clear image, and the accuracy of the blur kernel estimation can be improved. For the super-resolution reconstruction algorithm, we introduce a blur matrix and a regular total variation term into the traditional compressed sensing model and design a two-step total variation sparse iteration (TwTVSI) algorithm. Therefore, while ensuring the computational efficiency, the boundary effect caused by the block processing inside the image is removed. In addition, the design of the TwTVSI algorithm can effectively process the super-resolution model of compressed sensing with a sparse dictionary, thereby breaking through the reconstruction performance limitation of the traditional regularized super-resolution method of compressed sensing due to the lack of sparseness in the signal transform domain. The final experimental results also verify the effectiveness of our blind super-resolution algorithm.
3D Reconstruction of Non-Rigid Plants and Sensor Data Fusion for Agriculture Phenotyping
Authors: Sampaio Gustavo Scalabrini , Silva Leandro A. , Marengoni Maurício
Published: June 2021

Technology has been promoting a great transformation in farming. The introduction of robotics; the use of sensors in the field; and the advances in computer vision; allow new systems to be developed to assist processes, such as phenotyping, of crop’s life cycle monitoring. This work presents, which we believe to be the first time, a system capable of generating 3D models of non-rigid corn plants, which can be used as a tool in the phenotyping process. The system is composed by two modules: an terrestrial acquisition module and a processing module. The terrestrial acquisition module is composed by a robot, equipped with an RGB-D camera and three sets of temperature, humidity, and luminosity sensors, that collects data in the field. The processing module conducts the non-rigid 3D plants reconstruction and merges the sensor data into these models. The work presented here also shows a novel technique for background removal in depth images, as well as efficient techniques for processing these images and the sensor data. Experiments have shown that from the models generated and the data collected, plant structural measurements can be performed accurately and the plant’s environment can be mapped, allowing the plant’s health to be evaluated and providing greater crop efficiency.
Examination of Spectral Properties of Medicinal Plant Leaves Grown in Different Lighting Conditions Based on Mint Cultivation
Authors: Feldzensztajn Mateusz , Wierzba Paweł , Mazikowski Adam
Published: June 2021

Cultivation in controlled environmental conditions can provide good quality medicinal herbs with consistent properties. A sensing system that can determine the contents of medicinal substances in plants using spectral characteristics of leaves would be a valuable tool. Viability of such sensing approach for mint had to be confirmed experimentally, as no data correlating contents of medicinal substances with spectral characteristics of leaves are available, to the best of authors’ knowledge. In the first stage, presented in this paper, the influence of lighting on mint (Mentha rotundifolia) grown on a small hydroponic plantation was studied. Spectral characteristics of leaves were recorded by a spectrophotometer and colorimetric analysis was used to investigate the relationship between these characteristics and the spectrum of lighting. Dry mass yield was measured to test its dependence on the lighting. Dependence of chromaticity of leaves on the spectrum of light used in the cultivation was confirmed. Averaged spectra of leaves are distinguishable using a spectrophotometer and—in most cases—by a human observer. A partial correlation is observed between dry mass yield and the spectrum of lighting. Obtained results justify further research into the correlation between lighting and the contents of biological substances in medicinal plants using spectral characteristics of leaves.
Automated Screening and Filtering Scripts for GC×GC-TOFMS Metabolomics Data
Authors: Nam Seo , de la Mata A. , Harynuk James
Published: June 2021

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC×GC-MS) is a powerful tool for the analysis of complex mixtures, and it is ideally suited to discovery studies where the entire sample is potentially of interest. Unfortunately, when unit mass resolution mass spectrometers are used, many detected compounds have spectra that do not match well with libraries. This could be due to the compound not being in the library, or the compound having a weak/nonexistent molecular ion cluster. While high-speed, high-resolution mass spectrometers, or ion sources with softer ionization than 70 eV electron impact (EI) may help with some of this, many GC×GC systems presently in use employ low-resolution mass spectrometers and 70 eV EI ionization. Scripting tools that apply filters to GC×GC-TOFMS data based on logical operations applied to spectral and/or retention data have been used previously for environmental and petroleum samples. This approach rapidly filters GC×GC-TOFMS peak tables (or raw data) and is available in software from multiple vendors. In this work, we present a series of scripts that have been developed to rapidly classify major groups of compounds that are of relevance to metabolomics studies including: fatty acid methyl esters, free fatty acids, aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, amino acids, and carbohydrates.
Persistent Nasal Obstruction: An Expression of the Pro-Inflammatory State?
Authors: Calatayud-Sáez Fernando M. , Calatayud Blanca , Calatayud Ana
Published: June 2021

Introduction: During the first years of life, the oro-pharyngeal lymphoid tissue gradually increases in size, causing in some children difficulty breathing and often leading to surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids. The objective of the study is to assess the effects of the Mediterranean diet in children who had chronic upper airway obstruction. Material and methods: This was a prospective study pre-test/post-test comparison. Eighty-seven patients from two to eight years old were recruited. A food reeducation program based on the Mediterranean diet was applied for one year. Clinical, therapeutic, and anthropometric variables were studied. Results: The degree of nasal obstruction decreased in 95.1% of the patients. After the nutritional intervention, the number of colds with bacterial complications decreased by 80.26%; 60.9% had no bacterial complications during the year of the study. The use of antibiotics decreased by 81.94%. Symptomatic treatment decreased by 61.2%. Most patients did not require surgical intervention, and clinical evolution suggested that it would no longer be necessary. Conclusions: We can conclude by saying that the application of the traditional Mediterranean diet could be effective in the prevention and treatment of persistent nasal obstruction, limiting pharmacological and surgical intervention in many of these patients.
Work from Home and the Use of ICT during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia and Its Impact on Cities in the Future
Authors: Rachmawati Rini , Choirunnisa Ulfah , Pambagyo Zat Ayuningsih , Syarafina Yosi Atikah , Ghiffari Rizki Adriadi
Published: June 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in restrictions on activities involving physical contact, such as working. Indonesia began to apply the system of work from home (WfH) to minimize the spread risk of COVID-19 in March 2020. This research is aimed at finding out the coverage of WfH, mapping changes of workplace, identifying the use of ICT to support WfH, and analyzing the concept of workplace and work systems in future cities. The method used in this research is qualitative and quantitative. A questionnaire (Google Form) was sent to different WhatsApp groups whose members are experts in urban and regional planning, geography, the environment, smart cities, and IT, with total of 176 respondents. The focus group discussion conducted online focused on the use of ICT to support WfH during the COVID-19 pandemic. The result of this research shows that even before the pandemic, both the government and private sectors had a plan to apply WfH. Because of the pandemic, it became the catalyst for the implementation of WfH. The implementation of WfH has changed workplace orientation. The use of ICT was a primary need in implementing WfH during the pandemic. However, the WfH system implemented in the government sector has not been integrated, and neither has the one in private sectors. WfH is seen to have been effective enough, but it still needs lots of support from many sectors. In the future, WfH can still be maintained, along with working from the office (WfO). The WfH concept is highly recommended for big cities because it can support reduced population mobilization, resulting in reduced congestion and movement costs, and improved efficiency of working time by reducing travel time. On the other hand, it can help in the matter of limited of space that office buildings provide.
Screening People with Tuberculosis for High Risk of Severe Illness at Notification: Programmatic Experience from Karnataka, India
Authors: Shewade Hemant Deepak , Nagaraja Sharath Burugina , Murthy Hosadurga Jagadish Deepak , Vanitha Basavarajachar , Bhargava Madhavi , Singarajipura Anil , Shastri Suresh G. , Reddy Ramesh Chandra , Kumar Ajay M. V. , Bhargava Anurag
Published: June 2021

Due to limited availability of diagnostics and capacity, people with tuberculosis do not always undergo systematic assessment for severe illness (requiring inpatient care). In Karnataka (south India), para-medical programme staff used a screening tool to identify people at ‘high risk of severe illness’, defined using indicators of very severe undernutrition, abnormal vital signs and poor performance status (any one): (i) body mass index (BMI) ≤ 14.0 kg/m2 (ii) BMI ≤ 16.0 kg/m2 with bilateral leg swelling (iii) respiratory rate > 24/min (iv) oxygen saturation < 94% (v) inability to stand without support. Of 3020 adults notified from public facilities (15 October to 30 November 2020) in 16 districts, 1531 (51%) were screened (district-wise range: 13–90%) and of them, 538 (35%) were classified as ‘high risk of severe illness’. Short median delays in screening from notification (five days), and all five indicators being collected for 88% of patients, suggests the feasibility of using this tool in programme settings. However, districts with poor screening coverage require further attention. To end tuberculosis deaths, screening should be followed by referral to higher facilities for comprehensive clinical evaluation, to assess the need for inpatient care. Future studies should assess the validity (especially sensitivity in picking severely ill patients) of this screening tool.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Antimicrobial Use and Antimicrobial Resistance among Poultry Drug and Feed Sellers in Bangladesh
Authors: Kalam Md. Abul , Alim Md. Abdul , Shano Shahanaj , Nayem Md. Raihan Khan , Badsha Md. Rahim , Mamun Md. Abdullah Al , Hoque Ashraful , Tanzin Abu Zubayer , Khan Shahneaz Ali , Islam Ariful , Islam Md. Mazharul , Hassan Mohammad Mahmudul
Published: June 2021

Poultry production has boomed in Bangladesh in recent years. The poultry sector has contributed significantly to meet the increased demand for animal source proteins in the country. However, increased use of antimicrobials appeared to be a significant threat to food safety in the poultry sector. The poultry drug and feed sellers are at the frontline position involving selecting and delivering the antimicrobials to the poultry farmers. Studies assessing the poultry drug and feed sellers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) are limited. The current study aimed to assess the community poultry drug and feed sellers’ KAPs of antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in some selected areas of Bangladesh. We determined the respondents’ (drug and the feed sellers) KAPs of AMU and AMR using a tested and paper-based questionnaire. The study demonstrated that most respondents have insufficient knowledge, less positive attitudes, and inappropriate practices regarding AMU and AMR. The factor score analysis further showed that the type of respondents and their years of experience, level of education, and training on the drug were the significant factors impacting the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices of AMU and AMR. The adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that the drug sellers who completed their education up to 12th grade and had training on the drug had adequate knowledge of AMU and AMR. The data also showed that the drug sellers belong to the age group 31–35 and 36–40 years and who completed 12th grade had good attitudes on the same. Likewise, the analysis further determined that drug sellers belonging to the age category 18–25 and 26–30 years, and interestingly, the respondents who completed education up to 12th grade, had better practices. Spearman’s rank-order correlation revealed a positive association between each pair of the KAPs scores for the respondents. The correlation was fair between knowledge–attitudes, knowledge–practices, and attitudes–practices. Based on the current study results, we recommend educational interventions and appropriate training for the poultry drug and feed sellers to raise awareness and to upgrade their current knowledge on the appropriate use of antimicrobials. This will ultimately lead to reducing the chances of developing AMR in the poultry sectors of the country.
Damping Behavior of Thermoplastic Organic Sheets with Continuous Natural Fiber-Reinforcement
Authors: Dannemann Martin , Siwek Sebastian , Modler Niels , Wagenführ André , Tietze Johannes
Published: June 2021

In the field of lightweight construction, the use of natural fibers as reinforcement in composites has been increasingly discussed. Additionally, the damping properties of natural fibers are known from fiber materials such as fiber insulation boards. In the scope of the work presented here, the focus is on identifying the potential of natural fibers for lightweight structures with high vibration damping capacity. For this purpose, test specimens made of flax fiber-reinforced and glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites were manufactured and characterized. Contrary to expectations, the flax fiber-reinforced composite exhibited an almost isotropic damping characteristic. A comparison of the damping and stiffness properties determined by measurement confirms the high potential of natural fiber-reinforced materials for lightweight structures with high damping.
Temporal and Spatial Variation Characteristics of Precipitation in the Haihe River Basin under the Influence of Climate Change
Authors: Han Yuhang , Liu Bin , Xu Dan , Yuan Chaoguo , Xu Yanan , Sha Jinxia , Li Su , Chang Yifan , Sun Bolun , Xu Zhiheng
Published: June 2021

The impact of global climate change on the temporal and spatial variations of precipitation is significant. In this study, daily temperature and precipitation data from 258 meteorological stations in the Haihe River Basin, for the period 1960–2020, were used to determine the trend and significance of temperature and precipitation changes at interannual and interseasonal scales. The Mann–Kendall test and Spearman’s correlation analysis were employed, and significant change trends and correlations were determined. At more than 90% of the selected stations, the results showed a significant increase in temperature, at both interannual and interseasonal scales, and the increasing trend was more significant in spring than in other seasons. Precipitation predominantly showed a decreasing trend at an interannual scale; however, the change trend was not significant. In terms of the interseasonal scale, the precipitation changes in spring and autumn showed an overall increasing trend, those in summer showed a 1:1 distribution ratio of increasing and decreasing trends, and those in winter showed an overall decreasing trend. Furthermore, the Spearman’s correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between temperature and precipitation in the entire Haihe River Basin, at both interannual and interseasonal scales; however, most of the correlations were weak.
Land Use Change Influences Ecosystem Function in Headwater Streams of the Lowland Amazon Basin
Authors: Jankowski Kathi Jo , Deegan Linda A. , Neill Christopher , Sullivan Hillary L. , Ilha Paulo , Maracahipes-Santos Leonardo , Marques Nubia , Macedo Marcia N.
Published: June 2021

Intensive agriculture alters headwater streams, but our understanding of its effects is limited in tropical regions where rates of agricultural expansion and intensification are currently greatest. Riparian forest protections are an important conservation tool, but whether they provide adequate protection of stream function in these areas of rapid tropical agricultural development has not been well studied. To address these gaps, we conducted a study in the lowland Brazilian Amazon, an area undergoing rapid cropland expansion, to assess the effects of land use change on organic matter dynamics (OM), ecosystem metabolism, and nutrient concentrations and uptake (nitrate and phosphate) in 11 first order streams draining forested (n = 4) or cropland (n = 7) watersheds with intact riparian forests. We found that streams had similar terrestrial litter inputs, but OM biomass was lower in cropland streams. Gross primary productivity was low and not different between land uses, but ecosystem respiration and net ecosystem production showed greater seasonality in cropland streams. Although we found no difference in stream concentrations of dissolved nutrients, phosphate uptake exceeded nitrate uptake in all streams and was higher in cropland than forested streams. This indicates that streams will be more retentive of phosphorus than nitrogen and that if fertilizer nitrogen reaches streams, it will be exported in stream networks. Overall, we found relatively subtle differences in stream function, indicating that riparian buffers have thus far provided protection against major functional shifts seen in other systems. However, the changes we did observe were linked to watershed scale shifts in hydrology, water temperature, and light availability resulting from watershed deforestation. This has implications for the conservation of tens of thousands of stream kilometers across the expanding Amazon cropland region.
Mechanistic Model and Optimization of the Diclofenac Degradation Kinetic for Ozonation Processes Intensification
Authors: Acosta-Angulo Bryan , Lara-Ramos Jose , Diaz-Angulo Jennyfer , Mueses Miguel Angel , Machuca-Martínez Fiderman
Published: June 2021

This work focused on estimating the rate constants for three ozone-based processes applied in the degradation of diclofenac. The ozonation (Oz) and its intensification with catalysis (COz) and photocatalysis (PCOz) were studied. Three mathematical models were evaluated with a genetic algorithm (GA) to find the optimal values for the kinetics constants. The Theil inequality coefficient (TIC) worked as a criterion to assess the models’ deviation. The diclofenac consumption followed a slow kinetic regime according to the Hatta number (Ha<0.3). However, it strongly contrasted with earlier studies. The obtained values for the volumetric rate of photon absorption (VRPA) corresponding to the PCOz process (1.75×10−6 & 6.54×10−7 Einstein L−1 min−1) were significantly distant from the maximum (2.59×10−5 Einstein L−1 min−1). The computed profiles of chemical species proved that no significant amount of hydroxyl radicals was produced in the Oz, whereas the PCOz achieved the highest production rate. According to this, titanium dioxide significantly contributed to ozone decomposition, especially at low ozone doses. Although the models’ prediction described a good agreement with the experimental data (TIC<0.3), the optimization algorithm was likely to have masked the rate constants as they had highly deviated from already reported values.
The influence of personal qualities on the formation of a leader
Authors: Karaseva Larisa Arkadyevna , Bessonova Tatyana Vladimirovna , Knyazeva Galina Petrovna
Published: June 2021

In modern healthcare conditions, characterized by extremely dynamic changes, the problems associated with the training of nursing specialists who are adequate in terms of their professional level of importance and complexity of the tasks to be solved are of particular importance. In this regard, the process of professionalization of a nurse becomes significant, during which not only the development of professional norms and standards takes place, but also the development of the personal characteristics of a specialist, allowing him to become a leader.
Organization of vaccination of the residents of the Samara region to prevent infection caused by the new SARS-COV-2 coronavirus in the territory of service of Tolyatty city clinical polyclinic no.3
Authors: Maksimova Lyudmila Viktorovna , Borovik Natalya Vladimirovna
Published: June 2021

At the end of 2019, the whole world was swept by an «epidemiological cyclone» — a new coronavirus infection. COVID-19 has shown its destructive power and considerable duration. And the saddest thing for the whole world is that this phenomenon not only gave rise to fear and serious economic losses, but also significantly increased mortality rates. The conducted scientific studies have led to the unanimous conclusion that full control over the epidemiological situation around the world is possible only under the condition of a high level of immunization of the population through vaccination (Golikova T., Popova A., 2021). The vaccination campaign began in Russia in December 2020.
EVOLUÇÕES DAS TECNOLOGIAS DA INDÚSTRIA 4.0: DIFICULDADES E OPORTUNIDADES PARA AS MICRO E PEQUENAS EMPRESAS
Authors: Iszczuk Ana Claudia Duarte , Ventris Kauê Fernandes Dias , Pinto Gabrielly Balsarin , Shirabayashi Juliana Verga , dos Santos Marco Aurélio Reis , de Souza Rodrigo Clemente Thom , Molin Filho Rafael Germano Dal
Published: June 2021

As transformações e evoluções proporcionadas pelas inserções tecnológicas da Industria 4.0, nas operações e meios de produção, especialmente das grandes indústrias globais, representam um novo marco histórico da sociedade. A Biologia Sintética, Inteligência Artificial, Internet das Coisas, Manufatura Aditiva, Sistemas Ciberfísicos e o Big Data são algumas das principais tecnologias que foram criadas. Esse trabalho, em um primeiro momento, apresentou uma síntese detalhada dos últimos anos da evolução das tecnologias da Indústria 4.0. Na sequência, foram detalhadas as dificuldades e oportunidades atuais para que as micro e pequenas empresas (MPE’s) consigam incorporar as novas tecnologias nas suas operações. Tendo como alicerce uma pesquisa bibliográfica sistematizada em bases especializadas, com o recorte temporal nos últimos 10 anos, foram geradas informações estruturadas em tabelas resumos e infográficos. Em linhas gerais, observou-se que as implementações das novas tecnologias advindas da Indústria 4.0 para as MPE´s estão pautadas no desafio da gestão dos recursos financeiros e nas exigências de qualificação do capital humano. Em contrapartida, o intercâmbio de conhecimentos, a possibilidade de terceirização de algumas ferramentas tecnológicas, bem como a utilização de simulação apresentam-se como algumas das oportunidades e possibilidades para auxílio à imersão das MPE’s no contexto tecnológico da Indústria 4.0.
Understanding the concept of trace in criminal profiling
Authors:   The Ministry of National Defense, Olszak-Häußler Karolina
Published: June 2021

This article addresses the use of the term „trace” for the purposes of criminal profiling. In the literature on criminal profiling, “trace” is usually associated with such terms as “physical”, “forensic”, “behavioral” and “psychological”, whereby the two latter are considered to be the domain of profilers. The aim of this article is to familiarize the reader with the classification of traces used by criminal profilers, usually consisting of physical and forensic traces, as well as the way in which behavioral and psychological traces are defined in criminal profiling. Attention is also drawn to the fact that behavioral and psychological traces are understood in a different way by various authors. Moreover, it happens that the same author gives different meanings to the same term. Meanwhile, the lack of established definitions of behavioral and psychological traces may hinder the evaluation of expert opinions concerning criminal profiles, issued for the purpose of criminal proceedings.
Examination of low-energy bullets velocity
Authors:   Central Forensic Laboratory of the Police, Ćwik Krzysztof , Bogiel Grzegorz ,   Central Forensic Laboratory of the Police
Published: June 2021

This article presents the overall results of research performed under the project entitled: “Examination of low-energy bullets velocity” financed by the National Centre for Research and Development, carried out by a scientific consortium led by the Central Forensic Laboratory of the Police.
specific case involving fingerprinting of a mummified corpse
Authors:   Medical University of Warsaw, Mańkowska-Pliszka Hanna , Piotrowski Jarosław ,   Police Training Centre in Legionowo, Niewiadomski Ludomir ,   Training Center of Military Police in Mińsk Mazowiecki
Published: June 2021

This article describes an approach for fingerprinting a male corpse, mummified in ancient times and deposited in the Museum of the Department of Descriptive and Clinical Anatomy, Medical University of Warsaw. The authors present a practical approach to sampling of comparative material for dactyloscopic studies with the use of techniques adequate to physical properties of the research object, as well as the results obtained. The study revealed that the corpse which underwent mummification more than two thousand years ago still carries the skin areas within fingers and toes preserved well enough to obtain valuable material for dactyloscopic identification studies.
Methods for the evaluation of the insect evidence age
Authors:   Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Frątczak-Łagiewska Katarzyna
Published: June 2021

The article presents the newest methods of assessment of entomological evidence used in forensic entomology. The authors outline the advantages and limitations of particular techniques and highlight those that can be routinely applied in forensic practice. Additionally, certain types of evidence are characterized, including the circumstances under which they may be useful.
Graphic line extraction as an important element of handwriting analysis
Authors:   Polish Forensic Association, Goc Mieczysław , Łuszczuk Krystyn ,   Polish Forensic Association, Łuszczuk Andrzej ,   Polish Forensic Association
Published: June 2021

The article presents the capabilities and operating procedures of a computer application EDYTOR, dedicated for easy separation of the handwritten text line from the background containing elements interfering with the examined object. The application, developed by a team of specialists from the Polish Forensic Association, is mainly used in handwriting analysis.
Firearms – three in one
Authors:   Central Forensic Laboratory of the Police, Juszczyk Henryk
Published: June 2021

The article presents guns that depending on assembly can be regarded as different types of weapons. The ZORAKI mod. 906 and mod. 914-S pistols include sets of plugs, which, depending on the configuration of their installation, make the above-mentioned pistols play the role of alarm, gas or combat firearms.
Selected issues related to illegal cannabis cultivation
Authors:   Central Forensic Laboratory of the Police, Trynda Anna , Duszyńska Anna ,   Central Forensic Laboratory of the Police
Published: June 2021

For a long time, cannabis-based products have been enjoying unwavering popularity. Not surprisingly, the number of illegal cannabis plantations discovered in Poland and worldwide is increasing year on year. The plantation sizes vary from single plants grown “for own needs” in pots or outside housing, or farm facilities to professional, fully automated cultivations maintained by criminal groups. The article provides a summary of data analysis concerning illicit cannabis plantations liquidated in Poland since 2012. Additionally, the impacts of the most recent amendment to the Act on Counteracting Drug Addiction on the opinions issued by courtappointed experts, in particular, related to the cases involving illicit cannabis plantations, are indicated.
Striking a bicyclist – importance of selecting and properly securing microtraces – examples
Authors:   Prof. Dr. Jan Sehn Institute of Forensic Research, Kowalski Rafał , Trzcińska Beata M. ,   Prof. Dr. Jan Sehn Institute of Forensic Research
Published: June 2021

From an analytical point of view, evidence secured at the scene of the event must be adequate and comprehensive. Otherwise (also in the absence of an appropriate reference material), it may not be possible to perform all relevant analyses or the conclusions drawn may not concern the event in question (inadequate evidence secured). The above mentioned situations were illustrated with two casework examples experienced by the Institute concerning striking a pedestrian/bicyclist. Only paint traces were submitted for analysis and it took a considerable amount of time to single out the vehicles, whose drivers were potential perpetrators. As regards the first case, the originally submitted material proved inadequate and required supplementing in order to be able to prove direct contact between a vehicle and a bicyclist. In the second case, the evidence secured was not sufficient to determine the origin of one of traces. The significance of both cases lies in the fact that they emphasize an important role of securing evidence and show the possibility of cross-transfer of particles, both between objects (vehicle, bicycle, bicyclist) and within the same object (e.g. vehicle).
Polygraph or Variograph?
Authors:   Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, Widacki Jan
Published: June 2021

In Poland and only in Poland, a polygraph is occasionally called a “variograph”. For some, the argument in favor of the name “variograph” is that the term “polygraph” is allegedly misleading as it can be associated with the printing industry. The author argues that in other countries, the ambiguity of the name “polygraph” does not cause confusion. Furthermore, the author mentions several names synonymous with “polygraph” and recalls how the name of the device commonly known as the “lie-detector” has evolved in the US before it eventually became known as the “polygraph”. Finally, the author proves that the name “polygraph” was in use in the Polish physiological literature already in the 19th century, for denominating the device capable of simultaneously registering more than one physiological function of the human body.
Elimination DNA database – an opportunity or a threat? A review of the functioning of elimination databases in selected countries
Authors:   University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Ćwik Katarzyna
Published: June 2021

One of the basic provisions laying down the rationale for the functioning of elimination DNA databases is the 20th recommendation of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes - ENFSI, set out in the document entitled: “The DNA Database management. Review and recommendations”, developed by ENFSI DNA Working Group. The recommendation states clearly that each DNA database should also include an elimination database(s) containing the profiles and data of persons who may have been the source of the so-called cross-contamination of traces being the subject of analysis. The purpose of this article was to illustrate the essence of functioning of elimination DNA databases on the example of selected countries, with particular regard to, among others, system solutions applied, directories of persons subject to registration, legal basis and the number of contamination events detected as a result of database querying. A bibliographic query and analysis of source materials and foreign procedures enabled the author to present system solutions and the basics of functioning of selected elimination DNA databases established worldwide. Moreover, the author emphasized the importance of elimination databases as a tool for identifying the offenders and highlighted certain opportunities and risks involved in their implementation.