bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus and Dillenia indica Inhibit the Growth of MCF-7 Breast Cancer and COV434 Granulosa Tumor Cells by Inducing Apoptosis and Autophagy
Authors: Lawal Temitope O. , Raut Nishikant A. , Patel Shitalben R. , Mahady Gail B.
Published: February 2021

Background:

Dillenia indica L. (Dilleniaceae) and Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC.) Guill. & Perr. (Combretaceae) are used in traditional Nigerian medicine to treat various forms of cancer. This study investigated the cytotoxic effects of these plant extracts using COV434 granulosa tumor and MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Methods:

Samples of D. indica and A. leiocarpus were collected in Ibadan, Nigeria, air-dried, and extracted with methanol. Cell viability and cytotoxicity were determined using CellTiter-Glo® 2.0 assay at concentrations from 1 to 100 μg/mL. Caspase activity and apoptosis were determined using Caspase-Glo® 3/7, Caspase-Glo® 8, and ApoTox-Glo™ triplex assays, and qPCR. Autophagy was measured using a Cyto-ID Autophagy Detection Kit.

Results:

In COV434, aqueous partitions of A. leiocarpus root (ALR-Aq) and stem bark (ALS-Aq) had IC50sof 23.5 and 26.7 μg/mL, respectively. In MCF-7 cells, the ALR MeOH extract had IC50of 12.75 μg/mL, while the DIS-Aq had IC50of 65.28 μg/mL. None of the extracts inhibited the growth of human osteoblasts or rat myoblasts at similar concentrations. Treatment with ALR-Aq and DIS-Aq induced mitochondrial apoptosis in MCF-7 and COV434. Both ALR-Aq and DIS-Aq induced autophagy in COV434 cells, while ALR-Aq induced autophagy in MCF-7 cells. Ellagic acid (IC50of 3.27μg/mL in COV434 cells) was isolated from ALR-Aq using bioassay-guided fractionation.

Conclusion:

DIS-Aq and ALR-Aq induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and COV434 cancer cells. Ellagic acid was isolated as the active constituent. Taken together, these data suggest that both plant extracts have strong anti-proliferative effects, and further investigation for their anticancer effects is warranted.
Assessment of Extrapyramidal Symptoms Associated with Psychotropics Pharmacological Treatments, and Associated Risk Factors
Authors: Abu-Naser Dania , Gharaibeh Sara , Al Meslamani Ahmad Z. , Alefan Qais , Abunaser Renad
Published: February 2021

Background:

Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS) are unwanted symptoms commonly originating from the use of certain medications. The symptoms can range from minimal discomfort to permanent involuntary muscular movements. The aims of the study were to examine the incidence of drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms (di-EPS), associated risk factors, and clinical characteristics.

Methods:

This is a retrospective, observational study of di-EPS conducted in outpatient clinics of Jordan using the longitudinal health database (Hakeem®) for data collection. Patients who received drugs with the risk of EPS during the period 2010-2020 were included and followed. Patients with any of the known underlying conditions that may cause EPS or were currently taking drugs that may mask the symptoms were excluded. Gender and age-matched control subjects were included in the study. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS®) version 26 was used for data analysis.

Results:

The final dataset included 34898 exposed patients and 69796 matched controls. The incidence of di-EPS ranged from 9.8% [Amitriptyline 25mg] to 28.9% (Imipramine 25mg). Baseline factors associated with a significantly higher risk of developing di-EPS were age {HR: 1.1 [95%CI: 0.8-1.2, p=0.003], smoking {HR: 1.7 (95%CI: 1.3-2.2), p=0.02}, tremor history {HR: 7.4 (95%CI: 5.9-8.3), p=.002} and history of taking antipsychotics {HR: 3.9, (95% CI: 2.5-4.6), p=0.001}. Patients taking paroxetine {HR: 8.6 [95%CI: 7.4-9.8], p=.0002},imipramine {HR: 8.3, [7.1-10.5], p=0.01}, or fluoxetine {HR: 8.2 (95%CI: 6.8-9.3), p=.006} had a significantly higher risk of developing di-EPS compared to patients taking citalopram. Myoclonus, blepharospasm, symptoms of the basal ganglia dysfunction, and organic writers' cramp were reported among participants.

Conclusion:

Patients treated with paroxetine, imipramine, fluoxetine, or clomipramine had a higher risk of developing di-EPS than patients treated with citalopram. The difference in gender was not significantly related to di-EPS development. Whereas age, smoking, and history of taking antipsychotics were significantly associated with di-EPS development.

Key findings:

• High incidence of drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms (di-EPS) was reported

• Age, smoking, tremor history, and history of taking antipsychotics were risk factors of drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms.

• Patients taking paroxetine, imipramine or fluoxetine had a significantly higher risk of developing di-EPS compared to patients taking citalopram
Impact of DMPEI on Biofilm Adhesion on Latex Urinary Catheter
Authors: Tarabal Vinícius S. , Silva Flávia G. , Sinisterra Ruben D. , Gonçalves Daniel , Silva Jose , Granjeiro Jose M. , Speziali Marcelo , Granjeiro Paulo A.
Published: February 2021

Background:

Microorganisms can migrate from the external environment
to the patient’s organism through the insertion of catheters. Despite being
indispensable medical device, the catheter surface can be colonized by microorganisms
and become a starting point for biofilm formation. Therefore, new technologies
are being developed in order to modify surfaces to prevent the adhesion
and survival of microorganisms. Patents with the use of DMPEI have been filed.

Objective:

In the present work, we coated latex catheter surfaces with 2 mg mL-1
DMPEI in different solvents, evaluated the wettability of the surface and the anti-
biofilm activity of the coated catheter against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus
aureus, and Candida albicans.

Methods:

We coated the inner and outer catheter surfaces with 2 mg mL-1 of DMPEI
solubilized in butanol, dimethylformamide, and cyclohexanone and the surfaces
were analyzed visually. Contact angle measurement allowed the analysis of
the wettability of the surfaces. The CFU mL-1 count evaluated E. coli, S. aureus,
and C. albicans adhesion onto the control and treated surfaces.

Results:

The contact angle decreased from 50.48º to 46.93º on the inner surface
and from 55.83º to 50.91º on the outer surface of latex catheters coated with DMPEI.
The catheter coated with DMPEI showed anti-biofilm activity of 83%, 88%,
and 93% on the inner surface and 100%, 92%, and 86% on the outer surface for
E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans, respectively.

Conclusion:

Latex catheter coated with DMPEI efficiently impaired the biofilm
formation both on the outer and inner surfaces, showing a potential antimicrobial
activity along with a high anti-biofilm activity for medical devices.
The Impact of the Detector on the Performances of a Multi-Person Tracking
System
Authors: Djarah Djalal , Meraoumia Abdallah , Louazene Mohamed Lakhdar
Published: February 2021

Background:

Pedestrian detection and tracking are an important area of study in realworld
applications, such as mobile robots, human-computer interaction, video surveillance, pedestrian
protection systems, etc. As a result, it has attracted the interest of the scientific community.

Objective:

Certainly, tracking people is critical for numerous utility areas which cover unusual situations
detection, like vicinity evaluation, and sometimes change direction in human gait and partial
occlusions.
Researchers' primary focus is to develop a surveillance system that can work in a dynamic environment,
but there are major issues and challenges involved in designing such systems. So, it has become
a significant issue and challenge to design a tracking system that can be more suitable for such
situations. To this end, this paper presents a comparative evaluation of the tracking-by-detection
system along with the publicly available pedestrian benchmark databases.

Method:

Unlike recent works where person detection and tracking are usually treated separately,
our work explores the joint use of the popular Simple Online and Real-time Tracking (SORT) method
and the relevant visual detectors. Consequently, the choice of the detector is an important factor
in the evaluation of the system's performance.

Results:

Experimental results demonstrate that the performance of the tracking-by-detection system
is closely related to the optimal selection of the detector and should be required prior to a rigorous
evaluation.

Conclusion:

The study demonstrates how sensitive the system performance as a whole is to the
challenges of the dataset. Furthermore, the efficiency of the detector and the detector-tracker combination
is also depending on the dataset.
The Presence of Microbial Air Contaminants in the Operating Theatre at a Teaching Hospital in East Coast Malaysia
Authors: Khaidi Nor Azyan K.M. , Anua Siti M. , Mazlan Nurzafirah , Saud Safaa N.
Published: February 2021

Aim:

The aim of this study is to determine the presence of microbial air contaminants in the operating theatre at a teaching hospital.

Objective:

Airborne microbial level in operation theatre is one of the significant risks in hospital as it can increase the surgical site infection and nosocomial infections.

Background:

Duo SAS Super 360 Air Sampler was used to collect the airborne samples in triplicate each for nutrient and MacConkey agar at eight operation rooms and two corridors for morning and evening sessions. Sampling was conducted for three months and repeated every two months. Microbiological culture, gram staining and biochemical tests such as catalase test, oxidase test, coagulase test, Triple Sugar Iron Agar test, urease test, citrate test, Sulfide, Indole, Motility test, Methyl Red Voges-Proskauer test, disc diffusion test, and Albert’s stain were performed on the pure isolated culture.

Methods:

Sampling was conducted for three months and repeated every two months. Microbiological culture, gram staining and biochemical tests such as catalase test, oxidase test, coagulase test, Triple Sugar Iron Agar test, urease test, citrate test, Sulfide, Indole, Motility test, Methyl Red Voges- Proskauer test, disc diffusion test, and Albert’s stain were performed on the pure isolated culture. Bacteria that were present in the operation rooms were Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. while Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii were absent. The bacteria identified in the operation theater may also cause surgical site infections and nosocomial infections to the patients, although the microbial contamination in the air of the operation theatre is low.

Results:

The bacteria identified in the operation theater may also cause surgical site infections and nosocomial infections to the patients, although the microbial contamination in the air of the operation theatre is low.

Conclusion:

Strengthening surveillance on the hygienic condition of the operation theatre and routine sampling is strongly recommended to control all possible sources and types of infection.
Dental Education in the COVID-19 Era: Challenges, Solutions and Oppor- tunities
Authors: Alkadi Lubna
Published: February 2021

Objective:

The COVID-19 crisis has caused considerable disruption to medical education and has stimulated creative and rapid changes in the way technology is adopted and utilized for education. This change is accompanied by many challenges related to education, patient care, research, faculty development and collaboration, finances, and the psychological well-being of stakeholders.

Methods:

A review of the literature on dental education during the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted. Published articles addressing the challenges, solutions and opportunities in dental education during the COVID-19 era were assessed.

Results:

COVID-19 was a catalyst for a significant amount of change in dental education. Despite the magnitude of the challenges, this pandemic has influenced many positive solutions and opportunities in dental education.

Conclusion:

The COVID-19 pandemic forced dental educators to rethink models of curricular delivery, as it disrupted traditional delivery methods. The use of technology was adapted to ensure the continuity of education. With that, a number of challenges surfaced that were tackled creatively. Reflecting over the whole experience with COVID-19, the multiple opportunities that have been identified can improve the way we educate our students in the future.
The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Students of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alkhamees Abdulmajeed A. , Aljohani Moath S.
Published: February 2021

Background:

Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the numbers of cases and deaths worldwide have begun to increase, the closure of schools, universities, shops, workplaces, and the vast degree of precautionary actions, have left students feeling helpless, isolated, bored, and uncertain of what would happen to their academic advancement. Our study aims to assess the degree of the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students in Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

During the early days of the pandemic, the survey sample was based on non-probability sampling. We conducted an online-based survey using a snowball sample technique. The survey collected data on several aspects of the participants, including the psychological impact of COVID-19, using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The current study shows an extensive analysis of the survey with a focus on the impact of the pandemic on students.

Results:

A total of 336 students were recruited for the study and responded to the survey. The IES-R showed that 7.1% and 23.8% of the students experienced moderate and severe symptoms, respectively. On the DASS stress subscale, 13.4% and 10.7% of students experienced severe and extremely severe stress symptoms, respectively. With regards to anxiety, 6.0% and 15.8% of students experienced severe and extremely severe symptoms, respectively. As much as 11.6% and 17.6% of the students experienced severe and extremely severe symptoms of depression, respectively. Females were more likely to experience symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stress, anxiety, and depression. Having a family member working in the field of health/medicine was significantly associated with depression; poor to average health and previous diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder was associated with a higher chance of developing PTSD, stress, anxiety, and depression.

Conclusion:

During the early days of the pandemic, nearly one-fourth of students experienced moderate to severe symptoms of PTSD. Our findings could help guide schools and universities in implementing a clear, effective strategy for students to navigate the coming academic year and expand the efforts made on academic and psychological counseling, especially for the vulnerable populations.
Recomendaciones mínimas para la mitigación de cadmio
Authors: Bravo Daniel , León-Moreno Clara , Quiroga Ruth , Duarte Diannefair , Zamora Annie , Gutiérrez Edwin , Aristizábal Adriana , Arroyave Catalina , Cardona Lorena , Guerra Beatriz , Olarte Hugo , Cuervo Claudia , Orozco Maria Luisa , Moreno Edith
Published: February 2021

Esta serie de cartillas son importantes para el cacaocultor porque muestran varios aspectos que se deben tener en cuenta en el cultivo de cacao para la prevención y reducción de cadmio. La primera cartilla aborda los conceptos básicos, definiendo el cadmio y explicando su presencia en la naturaleza y su origen. También se describe cómo este elemento afecta la salud humana, cuál es la normativa internacional sobre el cadmio en el cacao y los criterios de manejo de cadmio en la industria cacaotera. La segunda cartilla presenta los aportes de investigación y desarrollo de varias instituciones en Colombia por mitigar o disminuir la presencia de cadmio en el cacao y aborda temas como fertilización, enmiendas y microorganismos. Por último, la tercera cartilla da cuenta del plan de acción del Gobierno nacional y de todas las instituciones que de alguna manera están trabajando de forma unida y alineada con otros actores de la cadena para ir mejorando la problemática de la presencia de cadmio en algunos sitios de Colombia.
Amphibian chytridiomycosis, a lethal pandemic disease caused by the killer fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: New approaches to host defense mechanisms and techniques for detection and monitoring
Authors: Romero-Zambrano Génesis L. , Bermúdez-Puga Stalin A. , Sánchez-Yumbo Alex F. , Yánez-Galarza Jomira K. , Ortega-Andrade H. Mauricio , Naranjo-Briceño Leopoldo
Published: February 2021

Chytridiomycosis is a catastrophic disease currently decimating worldwide amphibian populations, caused by the panzootic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Massive species decline to extinction catalyzes radical changes in ecosystems globally, including the largest continuous rainforest ecosystem on Earth, the Amazon rainforest. Innovative research that aims to propose feasible mechanisms of mitigation and the origins of the disease is vital, including studies addressing climatic effects on the expansion of chytridiomycosis. Thus, this publication aims to provide a comprehensive review of: i) the current technologies used for B. dendrobatidis detection and monitoring, and ii) the known Neotropical amphibian's skin microbiota with anti-fungal properties against B. dendrobatidis. Several immunologic and DNA-based methods are discussed to understand the emerging fungal pathogens and their effects on the biosphere, which can help to mitigate the devastating ecological impacts of mass amphibian morbidity. The establishment of rapid and highly accurate B. dendrobatidis detection techniques and methods for monitoring amphibian's cutaneous microbiome is crucial in the fight against chytridiomycosis.
Application of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Evidence Standards Framework for Digital Health Technologies in Assessing Mobile-Delivered Technologies for the Self-Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Scoping Review (Preprint)
Authors: Forsyth Jessica R , Chase Hannah , Roberts Nia W , Armitage Laura C , Farmer Andrew J
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND

There is a growing role of digital health technologies (DHTs) in the management of chronic health conditions, specifically type 2 diabetes. It is increasingly important that health technologies meet the evidence standards for health care settings. In 2019, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published the NICE Evidence Standards Framework for DHTs. This provides guidance for evaluating the effectiveness and economic value of DHTs in health care settings in the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to assess whether scientific articles on DHTs for the self-management of type 2 diabetes mellitus report the evidence suggested for implementation in clinical practice, as described in the NICE Evidence Standards Framework for DHTs.

METHODS

We performed a scoping review of published articles and searched 5 databases to identify systematic reviews and primary studies of mobile device–delivered DHTs that provide self-management support for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The evidence reported within articles was assessed against standards described in the NICE framework.

RESULTS

The database search yielded 715 systematic reviews, of which, 45 were relevant and together included 59 eligible primary studies. Within these, there were 39 unique technologies. Using the NICE framework, 13 technologies met best practice standards, 3 met minimum standards only, and 23 technologies did not meet minimum standards.

CONCLUSIONS

On the assessment of peer-reviewed publications, over half of the identified DHTs did not appear to meet the minimum evidence standards recommended by the NICE framework. The most common reasons for studies of DHTs not meeting these evidence standards included the absence of a comparator group, no previous justification of sample size, no measurable improvement in condition-related outcomes, and a lack of statistical data analysis. This report provides information that will enable researchers and digital health developers to address these limitations when designing, delivering, and reporting digital health technology research in the future.
Lessons From a Rapid Project Management Exercise in the Time of Pandemic: Methodology for a Global COVID-19 VIRUS Registry Database (Preprint)
Authors: Turek Janice R , Bansal Vikas , Tekin Aysun , Singh Shuchita , Deo Neha , Sharma Mayank , Bogojevic Marija , Qamar Shahraz , Singh Romil , Kumar Vishakha , Kashyap Rahul
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND

The rapid emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic globally collapsed health care organizations worldwide. Incomplete knowledge of best practices, progression of disease, and its impact could result in fallible care. Data on symptoms and advancement of the SARS-CoV-2 virus leading to critical care admission have not been captured or communicated well between international organizations experiencing the same impact from the virus. This led to the expedited need for establishing international communication and data collection on the critical care patients admitted with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE

Developing a global registry to collect patient data in the critical care setting was imperative with the goal of analyzing and ameliorating outcomes.

METHODS

A prospective, observational global registry database was put together to record extensive deidentified clinical information for patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

RESULTS

Project management was crucial for prompt implementation of the registry for synchronization, improving efficiency, increasing innovation, and fostering global collaboration for valuable data collection. The Society of Critical Care Medicine Discovery VIRUS (Viral Infection and Respiratory Illness Universal Study): COVID-19 Registry would compile data for crucial longitudinal outcomes for disease, treatment, and research. The agile project management approach expedited establishing the registry in 15 days and submission of institutional review board agreement for 250 participating sites. There has been enrollment of sites every month with a total of 306 sites from 28 countries and 64,114 patients enrolled (as of June 7, 2021).

CONCLUSIONS

This protocol addresses project management lessons in a time of crises which can be a precept for rapid project management for a large-scale health care data registry. We aim to discuss the approach and methodology for establishing the registry, the challenges faced, and the factors contributing to successful outcomes.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04323787; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04323787
Simplified internet-based diarrhoea and fever epidemiology in Balkh, Afghanistan
(Preprint)
Authors: Pilsczek Florian
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND

The low-income country Afghanistan requires disease frequency information for infectious diseases as essential tool for prevention and management.
We propose the use of internet searches for the collection of diarrhoea and fever frequency data to support doctors when treating diarrhoea and fever outbreaks.

OBJECTIVE

The low-income country Afghanistan requires disease frequency information for infectious diseases as essential tool for prevention and management.
We propose the use of internet searches for the collection of diarrhoea and fever frequency data to support doctors when treating diarrhoea and fever outbreaks.

METHODS

A computer with internet connection was used to search Google Trends for frequency data for Balkh, Afghanistan, in 2019.
We used search terms in English and the two languages of Afghanistan, Pashto and Dari.

RESULTS

Diarrhoea searches were conducted in Afghanistan throughout 2019 and especially between March and November.
Diarrhoea searches were submitted in Balkh throughout the year. Searches for fever and تب were submitted throughout the year and especially during the last 2 thirds of 2019.

CONCLUSIONS

Internet search engines are a low-cost tool to provide search frequency data for diarrhoea and fever and can support healthcare in remote parts of the world such as Balkh.
Correction: Addressing Implementation Challenges to Digital Care Delivery for Adults With Multiple Chronic Conditions: Stakeholder Feedback in a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Williams Kelly , Markwardt Sarah , Kearney Shannon M , Karp Jordan F , Kraemer Kevin L , Park Margaret J , Freund Paul , Watson Andrew , Schuster James , Beckjord Ellen
Published: February 2021

UNSTRUCTURED

REMOVE
Analysis of Export and Import Activities of Enterprises of the Agricultural Sector of Ukraine
Authors:   Private Joint-Stock Company “Higher education institution “Interregional Academy of Personnel Management”, Fedyuk Vasyl
Published: February 2021

The development of the Ukrainian agricultural sector can become a competitive advantage of Ukraine in the international market of goods and services, as the prospect of change in this area is characterized by high growth potential. The study of the dynamics and structure of foreign economic activity of agricultural enterprises in Ukraine and foreign direct investment has shown that the activities of economic entities in the study area depend on many factors that significantly affect the import and export potential of agricultural enterprises. The article analyzes the export and import activities of agricultural enterprises, examines the volume and effectiveness of attracting foreign direct investment by agricultural enterprises, which affect the development of the foreign economic activity of agricultural enterprises of Ukraine.
ИНТЕЛЛЕКТУАЛЬНАЯ СИСТЕМА ПОДДЕРЖКИ ФУНКЦИОНАЛЬНЫХ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИК РЛК МОНИТОРИНГА ПО ДАННЫМ ДИАГНОСТИЧЕСКОГО КОНТРОЛЯ
Authors: Тимошенко А.В. , Гуров Г.Б. , Кочкаров А.А. , Перлов А.Ю.
Published: February 2021

Показаны особенности применения методов искусственного интеллекта в современных РЛК мониторинга для организации превентивного технического обслуживания. Приведена структурно-функциональная схема интеллектуальной системы поддержки функциональных характеристик РЛК. Представлены экспериментальные оценки точности прогнозирования излучаемой мощности РЛК по данным диагностического контроля.
PHYSICAL LAYER SECURITY OF WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORK BASED ON OPPORTUNISTIC SCHEDULING
Authors: Marjanović Ivica , Milić Dejan , Anastasov Jelena , Cvetković Aleksandra
Published: February 2021

In this paper, a physical layer security analysis of wireless sensor network in the presence of an attacker, employing opportunistic scheduling approach, is presented. The intended as well as unintended transmission paths experience the Weibull fading. A novel analytical expression for the intercept probability is derived. In order to emphasize the advantages of the opportunistic scheduling approach, a comparative analysis with round-robin and optimal scheduling schemes is also given. The impact of a number of active sensors and the impact of fading channel conditions over main and wiretap channels on the intercept probabilities is obtained. The accuracy of theoretical results is confirmed by independent Monte Carlo simulation results.
OPTIMAL PAIR-WISE SUS ALGORITHM AS PROPORTIONAL FAIR ALGORITHM FOR MU-MIMO-OFDM SYSTEMS
Authors: Panajotović Aleksandra , Milović Daniela
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we research proportional fairness of the optimal pair-wise semi-orthogonal user selection (SUS) algorithm used in the MU-MIMO-OFDM system compliant with IEEE 802.11ac standard. Zero-forcing beamforming (ZFBF) is applied in the system as a precoding technique in order to cancel user interferences. Two different scenarios are considered: homogeneous and heterogeneous. Beside the proportional fairness, a throughput performance of the MU-MIMO-OFDM system is analyzed for both scenarios too. Simulation results show that the optimal pair-wise SUS algorithm is an excellent solution to realize the trade-off between the proportional fairness among users and the achieved system throughput.
ON DESIGN OF SELF-TUNING ACTIVE FILTERS
Authors: Mitić Darko , Jovanović Goran , Stojčev Mile , Antić Dragan
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we present one approach in design of self-tuning all-pass, band-pass, low-pass and notch filters based on phase control loops with voltage-controlled active components and analyze their stability as well. The main idea is to vary signal delay of the filter and in this way to achieve phase correction. The filter phase characteristics are tuned by varying the transconductance of the operational transconductance amplifier or capacitance of an MOS varicap element, which are the constituents of filters. This approach allows us to implement active filters with capacitance values of order of pF, making the complete filter circuit to be amenable for realization in CMOS technology. The phase control loops are characterized by good controllable delay over the full range of phase and frequency regulation, high stability, and short settling (locking) time. The proposed circuits are suitable for implementation as a basic building RF function block, used in phase and frequency regulation, frequency synthesis, clock generation recovery, filtering, selective amplifying etc.
DETERMINING THE IMPACTS OF FREIGHT TRANSPORT MODE COMBINATIONS ON AIR POLLUTION USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS
Authors: Petrović Nikola , Jovanović Vesna , Petrović Marijana , Nikolić Boban
Published: February 2021

Transport is one of the largest emitters of harmful substances that affect air quality. Each combination of freight transport modes has a different volume and at the same time has a differentiated negative impact on air quality. That is why the European Union has been making special efforts for many years to create and implement strategies aimed at improving air quality. The main goal of this paper is to present a methodology that enables quantification and analysis of the impact of each freight transport mode combination on air quality using feed-forward neural networks. The developed model uses the parameters of the EU member states in the period from 2000 to 2014. In addition to the scientific and practical contribution, the development of the model provides a good basis for the universal platform formation in order to create and develop strategies, i.e. measures to improve air quality on a global level.
LAUGHTER IN WRITTEN SERBIAN LANGUAGE
Authors: Marković Jordana , Stojičić Violeta
Published: February 2021

Laughter is an expression of a person's mood. It belongs to the vocal articulation in humans. In literature (and in dictionaries) sometimes this manner of articulation needs to be depicted in words. Different languages have different inventories of sounds which evoke laughter in written language. In this paper, we discuss the inventory of sounds by which laughter is represented in writing in the Serbian language. Data were compiled from published dictionaries and literary works, and some were obtained through a survey. The data were analyzed to compile the inventory of this function and to record spelling practices and nuances in transcribing various forms of laughter (loud, silent, etc.).
NUANCE OF ANIMISM IN THE PROSE OF ŽIVKO ČINGO
Authors: Kostadinović Danijela
Published: February 2021

Starting from the theoretical settings of folklore study, history of religion, anthropology and psychoanalysis, this paper studies the elements of animistic beliefs in the prose of the Macedonian writer Živko Čingo. The research material consists of the short stories “Духови в куќи”, “Вљубениот дух”, “Лудите роднини во борба со прекобното пиле” and “Пеперуга со златна прав”. The aim of this paper is to confirm that these stories establish a link with animism and the belief in the existence of soul in all animate and inanimate entities and phenomena in nature, and the belief that the soul continues to live after death.
AN ANALYSIS OF PHONETIC-PHONOLOGICAL AND ORTHOGRAPHIC ERRORS WHEN LEARNING SERBIAN AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Authors: Sudimac Nina Lj.
Published: February 2021

From the perspective of applied linguistics, this paper deals with the acquisition of Serbian as a foreign language by learners whose mother tongues are Lithuanian, Japanese, English and Bulgarian, and who spent one semester at the Centre for Serbian as a Foreign and Second Language at the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš. Working with a specific sample and using the analytical and error analysis method, we aim to identify the most common errors the speakers make at the phonetic-phonological and orthographic level,., the identified linguistic errors are classified into (a) errors occurring under the influence of the mother tongue; (b) errors as the result of the strict rules of the Serbian language system itself – interlingual errors; (c) errors arising from knowledge of another second language; and (d), errors resulting from the insecurity and insufficient acquisition of the Serbian language. By analyzing the sample, we conclude that the greatest number of errors at the phonetic-phonological and orthographic level occurred under the influence of their mother tongue (L1) on Serbian (L2).
AN INTEGRATED SWOT – FUZZY PIPRECIA MODEL FOR ANALYSIS OF COMPETITIVENESS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE LOGISTICS PERFORMANCES
Authors: Đalić Irena , Ateljević Jovo , Stević Željko , Terzić Svetlana
Published: February 2021

On the question: how to react in a particular situation, the management of the company must have a quick answer. In the time of fast and huge changes in production, the management must know what resources are available in the company and what kind of environment it faces. To respond promptly to the requirements of the environment, the company must define a clear strategy for its business. To define a strategy, management must know the state of the company. From these reasons, in this research it was conducted SWOT analysis of specific company, and after that the elements of the SWOT matrix were ranked using fuzzy PIPRECIA method. This ranking shows on which element company should pay the most attention.
INFLUENCE OF A BIRD MODEL SHAPE ON THE BIRD IMPACT PARAMETERS
Authors: Cwiklak Janusz
Published: February 2021

One of the factors which significantly exert a negative influence on flight safety is a collision of an aircraft with birds. Various parts of an aircraft are subjected to damage. Within the conducted analyses, the impact loaded object was a helicopter windshield. Apart from the mandatory physical tests, there are various numerical methods for bird strike modeling. Among them, in this paper, the Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) is being used and developed for bird modeling. Investigations exploit various geometric figures in order to model the bird shape. Few authors present research findings which employ an approximate shape of certain bird species. For comparison three bird models were elaborated upon, one in the shape of a cylinder with hemispherical ends (homogeneous model) and two others as multi-material models, one in the shape of a simplified white stork and the other one close to the real-life white stork. Multi-material bird models had various parameters. It must be noted that the maximum value of the resultant windshield displacement varies for different bird models. The bird model close to the real-life white stork caused the smallest deflection, while the bird model in the shape of a simplified white stork and the homogeneous bird model led to the biggest damage, respectively. It is important to add that the models are of the same mass, impact velocity and a different size. This has an impact on the kinetic energy distribution during the collision process, which results in different windshield bending values.
Persepsi Orang Tua Tentang Pendidikan Islam dalam Rumah Tangga di Desa Morella, Kabupaten Maluku Tengah
Authors: Manilet Saida
Published: February 2021

The research is here to study the perceptions of parents in Morella Village, Central Maluku Regency about Islamic education for children in the household. The research method is a qualitative description. The data source is chosen by using the purposive sampling technique. Data collected by interview, observation, and collection techniques. Data analysis is performed by data reduction, data display, and data verification. The results of the study found about parents' perceptions about Islamic education for children in the household, prayer requests, reading / reading the Holy Qur'an, teaching children to be diligent in school, and responding to neighbors and the community. Islamic education for parents only needs to be improved when children aged 4-12 years, while for adolescent children no longer need to be improved because they must have the awareness to behave.
Glavlit and the Fate of Literary and Art Magazines in 1931 –1932 (Krasnaya Nov’, Novy Mir, etc.)
Authors: Antonova Elena V.
Published: February 2021

The paper is devoted to the consideration of organizational measures applied by the highest party and state bodies (the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) and Glavlit) for reorganizing the editorial boards of the main literary and art magazines at the turn of 1931 –1932 (Krasnaya Nov’, Novy Mir, Oktyabr, Zvezda, etc.). In this regard, the paper uncovers the special role of B.M. Volin, whose appointment to the post of the head of Glavlit in June 1931 could, in the author's opinion, be one of the consequences of familiarizing the Politburo of the Central Committee with
A.P. Platonov’s story “For the Future”. On the basis of previously known and newly discovered documentary evidence, the article reconstructs the chronology of the editorial boards reformatting, which was started actively, but extended for months; it is noted that, despite the comparable degree of vulnerability of the executive editors of Krasnaya Nov’ (A. Fadeev) and Novy Mir (V. Polonsky), the measures applied to them were not equivalent. In order to assess the disorganization that arose in the course of the administrative audit of the editorial and publishing process, the output data of the magazines for the period under discussion are included in the review. Similar data, coupled with printed content announcements, make it possible to especially assess the damage done to Novy Mir. The paper is accompanied by the publication of a number of archival documents revealing the mechanisms for working out the “issue of magazines” in the bowels of the Central Committee and Glavlit, and a partial publication of the minutes of the Writers' Union Organizing Committee, involved in solving the problem at the final stage.
Turgenev as Perceived by Mark Aldanov
Authors: Shadursky Vladimir V.
Published: February 2021

The paper examines various aspects of the perception of I.S. Turgenev’s personality and works by Mark Aldanov. The reception of Turgenev in Aldanov's work has been studied diachronically: from mentioning the characters of the novel “Rudin” in the journalistic book “Armageddon” to reviews of the émigré editions of Turgenev's works and criticism in the philosophical dialogues “Ulm Night”. The reasons for Aldanov’s irony towards some of Turgenev's works, called by him the “chocolate factory”, are investigated. Aldanov's position is largely due to the principles of the cultural-historical method. Aldanov explains Turgenev's artistic failures by mistakes in a constant search for an adequate form for expressing rich content. Aldanov tries to be an objective, well-reasoned critic, but he correlates the shortcomings of Turgenev's style with the advantages of L.N. Tolstoy’s style. At the same time, Aldanov is concerned of Turgenev’s “failures”, praising him as one of the five best authors of the “golden” age of Russian literature and an original European intellectual. Aldanov mentions Turgenev in his journalism, criticism, correspondence, uses Turgenev's motives and quotes in his own fiction. The paper describes the novels “The Story of Death”, “Delirium”, “Suicide”, in which Turgenev's biography, images of Turgenev's works are embedded in the life of Aldanov's fictional characters. The kindness and morality of Turgenev's characters, the delicacy of the writer’s discourse enter the moral world of Aldanov's characters. For almost 40 years Aldanov quoted Turgenev's works and letters and used the images of his novels and stories to express his own aesthetic assessment. A sense of his own place in literature gave Aldanov the right to express his opinion not only about the merits of Turgenev's work, but also about the shortcomings of his technique.
From the Index to Akhmatova’s “Notebooksˮ: A. Efros
Authors: Timenchik Roman D.
Published: February 2021

An essay from the author's cycle “From the Index to Akhmatova's ʽNotebooks’ ˮ, opening the fifth dozen in a series of similar ones, demonstrates an attempt of extensive commentary on Akhmatova's working notes, organized around the names of characters present on the pages of her notebooks, a kind of free Akhmatova encyclopedia, where different times of her long life are combined in an onomasticon. A commentary of this kind snatches out representative fragments of Akhmatova's epoch, but the degree of presence or absence of different persons in the index do not always reflect their weight in Akhmatova's biography. This essay is dedicated to the art critic, poet, Pushkinist Abram Efros.
Supplement to the Chronicle of Osip Mandelstam’s Life and Work
Authors: Mets Alexander G. , Vidgof Leonid M. , Lubyannikova Ekaterina I. , Subbotin Sergei I.
Published: February 2021

The publication supplements and specifies Chronicle of
O.E. Mandelstam’s Life and Work (3rd ed., 2019) and includes 57 positions that refer to 1911 –1917 and deal with some facts that were not present in the Chronicle. Among them are biographical details, reports of Mandelstam’s public appearances, performances, meetings, data on the editorial history of his works and translations (including his publications abroad) and on non-publication of his poetic collection Aonides (1922) by Gosizdat. The paper covers Mandelstam’s activity in the association Literary Mansion and his performance at the House of Press (Leningrad), presents critical publications and press on Mandelstam of that period, etc.
Alexei Remizov “At the Evening Dawn”. A Chapter from the Manuscript; Letters to S.P. Remizova-Dovgello. 1926
Authors: Obatnina Elena R. , Uryupina Anna
Published: February 2021

The authors continue to introduce into scientific circulation chapters from
A.M. Remizov's manuscript “At the Evening Dawn”, which form a series of publications devoted to the émigré period of the writer’s life and work. The main part contains Remizov’s letters to S.P. Remizova-Dovgello for 1926, which in 1945–1948 were edited by the author and included in the planned book. The Appendix contains original letters of the same period. Such a juxtaposition of a particular chapter with its primary sources opens up the prospect of exploring motivations that guided the writer in creating autobiographical works in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The corps of epistolary documents for 1926 contains information related to Remizov’s position in the literary environment of Parisian emigration, his friendly and professional contacts, his work in the journal Blagonamerenny and also reveals unknown facts of the creative and publishing history of his works. The publication is accompanied by detailed comments based on previously unknown archival materials which supplement the history of the Russian Diaspora. Historical and literary surveys of the authors made it possible to introduce significant refinements into the biographical data, and into the chronology of the writer’s life and work as a whole.
Free Aesthetics Society (1906–1917). Chronicle materials. Part 2: 1912–1917
Authors: Sobolev Alexander L.
Published: February 2021

The history of the Moscow Free Aesthetics Society (1906–1917), based on insufficiently and unevenly studied sources, remains on the periphery of research interest. The main purpose of the present publication is to fill this gap. The chronicle is based on a wide spectrum of sources: the society's own reports (handwritten and printed), including financial; agendas and minutes of the Committee proceedings and general meetings; a register of guests at meetings in 1910–1912, preserved in the Manuscript department of the RSL; correspondence of participants; “Literary and Artistic Circle Proceedings”, published since 1913, as well as newspaper reports. The chronicle takes into account all dated official events of the Free Aesthetics Society: first of all, literary and musical evenings, but also the organizational meetings of the Society and its Committee, excluding particular meetings of society members. For the identified meetings, the date, status (general, closed, etc.), venue, topic, start time, conditions of guests admission, other information, including the number of participants and financial results, are given. These are followed with an outline of the main sources: the agenda (if known), a report, etc. After that, documents related to the preparation of the event, its implementation and consequences are listed.Lettersa ndmemoirsoftheparticipants are cited. Thus, the chronicle describes the main aspects of the Free Aesthetics Society activities, and various sources, many of which have not been published before, are introduced into scientific circulation. The second part of the publication is dedicated the the last years of the Society (1912–1917).
“Nobody Considered Me a Fraudster Yet...”: S.M. Alyansky Letters to L.D. Blok (1922–1924)
Authors: Fedotova Svetlana V.
Published: February 2021

The article, based on publication of S.M. Alyansky’s letters to L.D. Blok (1922, 1924), reconstructs the history of relations between the owner of “Alkonost” and the poet’s widow, who transferred the exclusive rights to all of Blok’s works to Alyansky. The article clarifies the details and circumstances of business negotiations between Alyansky and representatives of the “Slovo” publishing house in Berlin, which published Blok’s collected works (three volumes of poems and “The Theater”) in 1922, as well as the financial conditions for publishing a ten-volume collection of Blok’s works under the “Alkonost” brand in the publishing house “Epokha” (Berlin, 1923). The main subject of consideration is a fact unknown in Block studies — the fraud allegations made against Alyansky by L.D. Blok. The introduced archival materials do not only shed light on this incident, but also prove the unsoundness of the insinuations put forward against the owner of “Alkonost”, whose publishing and royalty policies were determined by professional enterprise and high — “knightly” — moral qualities.
Additions on I.A. Goncharov’s Service in the Foreign Trade Department
Authors: Romanova Aleksandra V.
Published: February 2021

The article summarizes the data of many years of research on I.A. Goncharov’s service activity in the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Finance as an official, but not as a translator and a secretary of Admiral E.V. Putyatin aboard the frigate Pallada. The time period is from May 1835 to November 1838, from 1843 to October 1852 and from the spring of 1855 to early 1856, when Goncharov took the post of censor. The character of Goncharov's service in 1843 –1845 is emphasized. The author investigates the case of the Foreign Trade Department on the construction of furniture in 1846 –1849, in which, in addition to the already known list of documents (for depositing in the archives), compiled and signed by Goncharov, his notes on separate sheets were revealed. The documents allow to make a reasonable conclusion that Goncharov, in addition to his official duties as a translator, participated in other affairs of the department. It is possible that, at the request of his superiors, he sometimes performed some errands when his colleagues were on vacation. But his officially undisclosed return to the duties of a clerical worker on a permanent basis is also possible. For this service, Goncharov was presented with several gifts.