bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tuberculosis treatment intervention trials in Africa: A cross-sectional bibliographic study and spatial analysis
Authors: Hohlfeld Ameer S. J. , Mathebula Lindi , Pienaar Elizabeth D. , Abrams Amber , Lutje Vittoria , Ndwandwe Duduzile , Kredo Tamara
Published: March 2021

Background

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (TB) poses a substantial burden in sub-Saharan Africa and is the leading cause of death amongst infectious diseases. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are regarded as the gold standard for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. We aimed to describe published TB treatment trials conducted in Africa.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study of published TB trials conducted in at least one African country. In November 2019, we searched three databases using the validated Africa search filter and Cochrane’s sensitive trial string. Published RCTs conducted in at least one African country were included for analysis. Records were screened for eligibility. Co-reviewers assisted with duplicate data extraction. Extracted data included: the country where studies were conducted, publication dates, ethics statement, trial registration number, participant’s age range. We used Cochrane’s Risk of Bias criteria to assess methodological quality.

Results

We identified 10,495 records; 175 trials were eligible for inclusion. RCTs were published between 1952 and 2019. The median sample size was 206 participants (interquartile range: 73–657). Most trials were conducted in South Africa (n = 83) and were drug therapy trials (n = 130). First authors were from 30 countries globally. South Africa had the most first authors (n = 55); followed by the United States of America (USA) (n = 28) and Great Britain (n = 14) with fewer other African countries contributing to the first author tally. Children under 13 years of age eligible to participate in the trials made up 17/175 trials (9.71%). International governments (n = 29) were the most prevalent funders. Ninety-four trials provided CONSORT flow diagrams. Methodological quality such as allocation concealment and blinding were poorly reported or unclear in most trials.

Conclusions

By mapping African TB trials, we were able to identify potential research gaps. Many of the global north’s researchers were found to be the lead authors in these African trials. Few trials tested behavioural interventions compared to drugs, and far fewer tested interventions on children compared to adults to improve TB outcomes. Lastly, funders and researchers should ensure better methodological quality reporting of trials.
IL-6 and IL-10 in the serum and exfoliated cervical cells of patients infected with high-risk human papillomavirus
Authors: Bonin-Jacob Camila Mareti , Almeida-Lugo Larissa Zatorre , Puga Marco Antonio Moreira , Machado Ana Paula , Padovani Cacilda Tezelli Junqueira , Noceti Mariana Calarge , Ferreira Alda Maria Teixeira , Fernandes Carlos Eurico dos Santos , Resende Júlio César Possati , Bovo Adriane Cristina , Tozetti Inês Aparecida
Published: March 2021

Persistent infection by high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions. While some cytokines help immune cells in virus clearance, others contribute to the persistence of infection and neoplastic progression. Here, the levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-2 were quantified in the serum and exfoliated cervical cells (ECCs) of patients with HR-HPV, and the presence of IL-6+cells was investigated in uterine cervix biopsies. Cytokine levels in the serum and ECCs of 26 HR-HPV DNA-positive patients and 18 HPV DNA-negative patients were measured using flow cytometry. Fifteen uterine cervix biopsy samples embedded in paraffin were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for the detection of IL-6+cells. HR-HPV-positive patients showed increased IL-6 and IL-10 in the ECCs and serum, respectively. Compared with HPV DNA-positive patients, HPV DNA-negative patients had higher levels of IL-6 in ECCs. Patients with multiple infections of HPV had higher levels of IL-6 in their ECCs than those with a single infection. Immunostaining of uterine cervix biopsy samples revealed no differences in IL-6 expression between the different classes of histopathological lesions. However, differences were observed in the expression levels of IL-6 and IL-10 at the systemic and local levels in HR-HPV-positive patients without cervical lesions. Considering the functional characteristics of these cytokines, it can be inferred that such patients are prone to persistent HPV infection.
Pregnancy outcomes in women with vitiligo: A Taiwanese nationwide cohort study
Authors: Hung Chih-Tsung , Huang Hsin-Hui , Wang Chun-Kai , Chung Chi-Hsiang , Tsao Chang-Huei , Chien Wu-Chien , Wang Wei-Ming
Published: March 2021

Vitiligo is perceived as an autoimmune skin disease. Previous studies showed conflicting data about vitiligo and pregnancy outcomes. To delineate the associations between vitiligo and the pregnancy outcomes, we used the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan to conduct a retrospective cohort study from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2015. This study population was composed of 1,096 women with vitiligo and 4,384 women without vitiligo, who were all matched according to age, comorbidity, and index year. Compared with the non-vitiligo controls, women with vitiligo had a higher risk of abortion (aHR 1.158, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.095–1.258, P < .001). Perinatal events, such as preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, stillbirth, and intrauterine growth retardation, were not different between both groups (aHR 1.065, 95% CI 0.817–1.157, P = .413). To determine if systemic treatment before conception decreases the risk of abortion, we assessed the medical history of pregnant women with vitiligo 1 year before pregnancy. Patients who were treated with oral medications had a lower risk of abortion than those who were not (aHR: 0.675, 95% CI: 0.482–0.809, P < .001). Our study indicates that there is a higher risk of abortion in pregnant women with vitiligo and the control of disease activity with systemic treatment before conception could improve pregnancy outcomes.
Grandparental partnership status and its effects on caring for grandchildren in Europe
Authors: Perry Gretchen , Daly Martin
Published: March 2021

Grandparents are important childcare providers, but grandparental relationship status matters. According to several studies, caregiving is reduced after grandparental divorce, but differential responses by grandmothersversusgrandfathers have often been glossed over. To explore the effects of relationship status on grandparental care, we analysed data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) comparing four grandparental relationship statuses (original couple, widowed, divorced, and repartnered) with respect to grandmothers’ and grandfathers’ provision of care to their birth children’s children. When proximity, kinship laterality, and grandparents’ age, health, employment, and financial status were controlled, divorced grandmothers without current partners provided significantly more childcare than grandmothers who were still residing with the grandfather, those who had new partners unrelated to the grandchildren, and widows without current partners. Grandfathers exhibited a very different pattern, providing substantially less grandchild care after divorce. Grandfathers in their original partnerships provided the most grandchild care, followed by widowers, those with new partners and finally those who were divorced. Seemingly contradictory findings in prior research, including studies using SHARE data, can be explained partly by failures to distinguish divorce’s effects on grandmothersversusgrandfathers, and partly by insufficient controls for the grandmother’s financial and employment statuses.
Introduction of precordial Doppler ultrasound to confirm correct peripheral venous access during general anesthesia in children: A preliminary study
Authors: Kojima Taiki , Kitamura Kana , Ichiyanagi Shogo , Watanabe Fumio , Yamaguchi Yukiko , Sato Emi , Tani Daisuke , Kako Hiromi , Kandil Ali I. , Ohde Sachiko , Miyazu Mitsunori
Published: March 2021

Background

Delayed identification of infiltration and dysfunction of peripheral intravenous (PIV) access can lead to serious consequences during general anesthesia in children. This preliminary study aimed to describe the application of precordial Doppler ultrasound during general anesthesia in children to detect and confirm the correct PIV access and to evaluate the accuracy of this method.

Methods

This was a single-center, preliminary study that was conducted in children (<18 years) who were scheduled for elective surgeries between October 2019 and March 2020. Rater anesthesiologists judged the change in precordial Doppler sound (S test) before and after injection of 0.5 mL/kg of normal saline (NS) via PIV. Blood flow velocity before and after NS injection was recorded, and multiple cutoff points were set to analyze the accuracy of detecting the infiltration and dysfunction of PIV catheter (V test).

Results

The total incidence of peripheral infiltration and dysfunction of PIV catheter was 7/512 (1.4%). In the S test, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were 5/7 (71.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 29.0%–96.3%), 490/505 (97.0%; 95% CI, 95.1%–98.3%), 24.0, 0.29, and 0.84, respectively. The V test showed that the reasonable threshold of blood flow velocity change was 1.0 m/s, with sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and AUC of 4/7 (57.1%; 95% CI, 18.4%–90.1%), 489/505 (96.8%; 95% CI, 94.9%–98.2%), 18.0 and 0.44, and 0.84, respectively.

Conclusions

This preliminary study demonstrated that precordial Doppler ultrasound is a feasible, easy-to-use, and noninvasive technique with good accuracy to confirm the correct PIV access during general anesthesia in children. However, its accuracy requires further evaluation.
From campus to community: Art history as urban practice
Authors: Benay Erin E.
Published: March 2021

Although public art has long been engaged with urban theory, few art history courses seek to similarly engage with the space of the city. This article considers what art does in the city and for whom, but it also suggests how Humanities professors in the university setting might harness the power of cooperative, community-engaged learning.
Memorias y ficciones en la recreación de un pasado violento. El caso de ETA
Authors: Rodríguez Fouz Marta
Published: March 2021

El propósito de este artículo es ocuparse de cómo las ficciones participan en la reconstrucción de la memoria colectiva de un pasado traumático, en particular, el de la violencia de ETA. Prestaremos atención a cómo adquieren relevancia trabajos de ficción que tratan de contar ese pasado reciente, despertando reacciones encontradas acerca de su sentido y valor para relatar con verosimilitud lo ocurrido. El esfuerzo narrativo parece toparse con dificultades para construir una memoria colectiva que concite acuerdos sobre su acierto e idoneidad. Igual que viene ocurriendo con la revisión institucional del pasado, objeto de tensiones que se han verbalizado como “batalla por el relato”. Se trata de proponer una reflexión que ahonde en el potencial de la narración para cargar de sentido la mirada hacia el pasado, identificando las tensiones y las claves que redundan en la re-mitificación de la violencia y que se expresan como sospecha contra la crudeza y autenticidad de determinados relatos. Para ello, acudiremos a los vínculos entre memoria, historia y ficción y al cuestionamiento del presupuesto de que puede y debe construirse una narración exenta de posicionamientos morales y juicios de valor. Algo especialmente decisivo cuando el contexto al que se remite es el de aquella violencia legitimada por una parte de la sociedad. Finalmente, recalaremos en el poder de la ficción para definir el mundo, destacando su capacidad para intervenir y añadir sentido en nuestra comprensión de la realidad.
Continuidades y discontinuidades de la violencia política en la transición a la democracia en Chile
Authors: Piper-Shafir Isabel , Velez-Maya Margarita Maria
Published: March 2021

Este artículo es una reflexión sobre la violencia política en la transición chilena, realizado a partir del diálogo con siete narrativas en las que se abordan las memorias construidas por activistas que la ejercieron durante ese período. Tomando como punto de partida los conocimientos producidos por las y los activistas, por medio del método de las “producciones narrativas”, surgen dos ejes de análisis: las reconfiguraciones de las prácticas, sentidos y posibilidades de las violencias para la lucha social en la democracia post-dictatorial y las continuidades de la violencia política estatal. Se concluye que la transición política chilena se constituye en un dispositivo de pacificación de la sociedad, en el que se crean instituciones, leyes y discursos que deslegitiman, persiguen y estigmatizan el uso de la violencia política como forma de lucha, mientras que se legitima la violencia política de Estado, dirigida principalmente a quienes representan un riesgo para el mantenimiento del nuevo orden.
Nota del editor. Presentación de “Miradas laterales sobre las transiciones, la memoria y la violencia”
Authors: Gatti Gabriel
Published: March 2021

Este artículo presenta el número monográfico“Miradas laterales sobre las transiciones, la memoria y la violencia”. El número cuenta con las contribuciones de Alfonso Pérez-Agote en la sección de Fundamentales. Lo acompañan los trabajos de Alejandro Castillejo, Germán Labrador, Jesús Izquierdo, Isabel Piper y Margarita Maria Velez-Maya, Marta Rodríguez-Fouz y Caroline Guibet Lafaye.
Amazonia Brasileña: ocupación y políticas socioambientales
Authors: Nonata Monteiro Raimunda , Do Espírito Santo Iadanza Enaile , Martins Lastres Helena Maria
Published: March 2021

Este dossier se centra en la Amazonia, la mayor selva tropical del mundo, donde habitan cientos de pueblos indígenas, quilombolas, comunidades tradicionales, entre otros. La multiplicación exponencial de la deforestación y los incendios, con la destrucción de ecosistemas y modos de vida, compromete de forma alarmante la biodiversidad, la supervivencia de las comunidades y pueblos y la vida en el planeta. El Dossier Amazonia Brasileña: ocupación y políticas socio-ambientales, tiene por objeto discutir los habituales conceptos de desarrollo y modelos de actuación sobre la naturaleza, así como sus resultados en el medio ambiente, el clima y las sociedades. En los cinco artículos seleccionados, la riqueza de las realidades tratadas y de las aportaciones analíticas permite al lector conocer mejor las trayectorias y consecuencias de las políticas que impactan sobre la región, las comunidades, el uso de la tierra, de las aguas y de los demás recursos, proporcionando una visión global de las principales acciones del Estado brasileño y sus efectos en las diferentes localidades y pueblos de la Amazonia. Hay alternativas. Tenemos que conocerlas.
Synthesis of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers using Methacrylic Acid and
Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate by Precipitation Polymerization Method
Authors: Fauziah St. , Sullahi F.A. , Soekamto N.H. , Taba P. , Sapar A.
Published: March 2021

The synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) was carried out by using methacrylic acid as
a monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslink and dibutyl phthalate as a mold through the
precipitation polymerization method. The MIP was characterized with FTIR, surface area analyzer,
SEM-EDS and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. The MIP adsorption ability test variables for
dibutyl phthalate were time and concentration. The FTIR indicates that the functional groups –OH,
–C=O and –C=C contribute to the formation of MIP and the SEM-EDS analysis showed that the
prepared MIP resembles as beads. The MIP’s ability to adsorb dibutyl phthalate is better than NIP and
the optimum time to adsorb dibutyl phthalate is 60 min.
A TQM vezetési filozófia és a minőségorientált vezetési rendszerek
Authors: Topár József
Published: March 2021

A termelő- és szolgáltatószektorokban ma már természetes követelmény a minőségmenedzsment-rendszerek alkalmazása. A formalizált rendszerek mellett mind nagyobb szerepet kapnak a minőségorientált vezetési rendszerek. A szakmai közvéleményben is vita folyik arról, hogy e rendszereket különálló, egymástól független vagy azonos alapokon nyugvó rendszereknek tekintjük. Másrészt lényegét tekintve vezetési rendszereknek, filozófiáknak értelmezzük őket vagy különböző módszerek összességeként. A szerző cikkében a minőségmenedzsment- rendszerek jövőjével kapcsolatos trendek összefoglalása, a TQM, a Hat Szigma, valamint a lean management alapjainak áttekintése és összehasonlítása alapján megállapítja, hogy e rendszerek a vezetési rendszer szerves részét képezik, alkalmazásuk együtt jár az alkalmazó szervezet szervezeti kultúrájának megváltoztatásával. Az áttekintett vezetési rendszerek mindegyike a különböző menedzsmentdiszciplínák szinergikus alkalmazását igényli. Hatékony működésük feltételezi a különböző módszerek szisztematikus alkalmazását, de pusztán a módszerek alkalmazása nem tekinthető vezetési rendszernek.
Phosphorylation Dependent Sequestration Of Protein Phosphatase-1
I (PP-1
I) By Protein 14-3-3
Authors: Tung H.Y. Lim
Published: March 2021

PP-1 is involved in the control of the meiotic and mitotic cell divisions at the G2 to M transition by dephosphorylating phospho-serine 217 (phospho-serine 287 in Xenopus) of Cdc25, accompanied by activation of Cdc25 which would then dephosphorylate and activate Cdk1 . PP-1I has been proposed to be the form of PP-1 that dephosphorylates and activates Cdc25. Here we show that PP-1I is sequestered in a phosphorylation dependent manner by protein 14-3-3 involving phosphorylation of serine 71 of I-2 moiety of PP-1I by C-TAK1. Phosphorylation of serine 71 of the I-2 moiety of PP-1I by C-TAK1 enhanced the sequestration and inhibition of PP-1I by Protein 14-3-3. Phosphorylation of serine 71 of the I-2 moiety of PP-1I caused an increase in the Stability Energy, Binding Energy of the interaction between PP-1I and Protein 14-3-3 and a significant decrease in the IC50 of the inhibition of PP-1I by Protein 14-3-3. PP-1I regulation by C-TAK1 and Protein 14-3-3 is a mechanism for the control of Cdc25 at the G2 to M transition of the cell cycle.
Primary Esophageal Tuberculosis Without Dysphagia or Odynophagia in a Patient Without HIV
Authors: Ogbomo Henry , Thiesen Aducio , Zepeda-Gomez Sergio , Kohansal-Vajargah Ali
Published: March 2021

We report a case of primary esophageal tuberculosis in a 35-year-old woman without HIV who presented with a month's history of epigastric and chest pain without dysphagia or odynophagia and was found to have histologic evidence of multiple caseating granulomata on esophageal biopsy, which was confirmed positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA and cultures.
Myelofibrosis and Portal Hypertension: The Case for Primary Variceal Screening
Authors: Sherman Marc Samuel , Samore Wesley R. , Pratt Daniel Stephan
Published: March 2021

Myelofibrosis is a hematologic condition that predisposes to the formation of large and small portal venous clots. Portal injury is believed to underlie the mechanism of development of noncirrhotic portal hypertension in this population. We describe a patient with myelofibrosis, proven portal hypertension, and extramedullary hematopoiesis with no imaging or pathologic evidence of microvascular or macrovascular portal clot. We provide a concise review of the literature which highlights that patients with myelofibrosis and related conditions of polycythemia vera and essential thrombocytosis present not infrequently with portal hypertension and variceal bleeding. We propose this population may benefit from primary variceal screening.
Management of Gastroduodenal Artery Pseudoaneurysm Rupture With Duodenal Ulcer Complicated by Coil Migration
Authors: Chang Dennis , Patel Purvi , Persky Seth , Ng Joseph , Kaell Alan
Published: March 2021

Rupture of visceral artery aneurysms or visceral artery pseudoaneurysms is an unusual cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Although most visceral artery aneurysms and visceral artery pseudoaneurysms occur in the splenic artery or hepatic artery, they can rarely occur in the gastroduodenal artery. These are at high risk for rupture, with a 40%–70% mortality. We report a case of recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm despite endoscopic treatment and endovascular embolization complicated by coil migration into the duodenum.
The Amount of Regenerated Heat Inside the Regenerator of a Stirling Engine
Authors: Škorpík J.
Published: March 2021

The paper deals with analytical computing of the regenerated heat inside the regenerator of a Stirling engine. The total sum of the regenerated heat is constructed as a function of the crank angle in the case of Schmidt’s idealization.
Influence of Brick Walls on the Temperature Distribution in Steel Columns in Fire
Authors: Correia António J. P. Moura , Rodrigues Joao Paulo C. , Silvac Valdir Pignatta e
Published: March 2021

This paper reports on a study of steel columns embedded in walls in fire. Several fire resistance tests were carried out at the Laboratory of Testing Materials and Structures of the University of Coimbra, in Portugal. The temperatures registered in several points of the experimental models are compared with those obtained in numerical simulations carried out with the SUPERTEMPCALC finite element program.
Age Dependence of Children’s Speech Parameters
Authors: Janda J.
Published: March 2021

This paper deals with the search for agedependent parameters in children’s speech. These parameters are compared in terms of age dependence, and their adequacy for recognizing the age of a speaker is presented, using discrimination analysis.
Transformation of Commercial Flows into Physical Flows of Electricity – Flow Based Method
Authors: Adamec M.
Published: March 2021

We are witnesses of large – scale electricity transport between European countries under the umbrella of the UCTE organization. This is due to the inabilyof generators to satisfy the growing consumption in some regions. In this content, we distinguish between two types of flow. The first type is physical flow, which causes costs in the transmission grid, whilst the second type is commercial flow, which provides revenues for the market participants. The old methods for allocating transfer capacity fail to take this duality into account. The old methods that allocate transmission border capacity to “virtual” commercial flows which, in fact, will not flow over this border, do not lead to optimal allocation. Some flows are uselessly rejected and conversely, some accepted flows can cause congestion on another border. The Flow Based Allocation method (FBA) is a method which aims to solve this problem.Another goal of FBA is to ensure sustainable development of expansion of transmission capacity. Transmission capacity is important, because it represents a way to establish better transmission system stability, and it provides a distribution channel for electricity to customers abroad. For optimal development, it is necessary to ensure the right division of revenue allocation among the market participants.This paper contains a brief description of the FBA method. Problems of revenue maximization and optimal revenue distribution are mentioned.
Importance of Peaceful Utilization of Nuclear Energy
Authors: Frydryšková J.
Published: March 2021

Following the massive destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the end of Second World War, the atom was generally taken to be the primary symbol of the new era, the so-called ‘atomic age’, a prototypical modern conjuncture forever oscillating between the agonies of mass death and standardized terror, and the euphoria of tremendous economic transformation through the permanent resolution of the ever increasing need for electrical energy at little or no cost. After Hiroshima the symbolic meaning and presence of the atom crossed and recrossed the lines between popular culture, lived experience, political protest, strategic discourse, modern design, industry, medicine, and agriculture, that it truly became ‘atomic age’ whether one was in the US, France, China or anywhere else.
Logical Structural Models with Multiplexors
Authors: Bokr J. , Jáneš V.
Published: March 2021

The paper deals with the use of multiplexors in designing logical structural models.. The applications can be preferably used in designing morphology on EFGA chips and other programmable structures. Illustrative examples are included.
CaC in ATM – the Diffuse Method
Authors: Baroňák I. , Vozňák M.
Published: March 2021

Connection Admission Control is an element in the of preclusive mechanisms of ATM management. Its main task is to prevent overloading of the network and to ensure the required quality of service. This means that it has to predict the service of the network and according to its state it can manage both existing and new connections. This paper deals with the diffuse method, a CAC method that enables us to obtain the required results.
Bayesian Classifier for Medical Data from Doppler Unit
Authors: Málek J.
Published: March 2021

Nowadays, hand-held ultrasonic Doppler units (probes) are often used for noninvasive screening of atherosclerosis in the arteries of the lower limbs. The mean velocity of blood flow in time and blood pressures are measured on several positions on each lower limb. By listening to the acoustic signal generated by the device or by reading the signal displayed on screen, a specialist can detect peripheral arterial disease (PAD).This project aims to design software that will be able to analyze data from such a device and classify it into several diagnostic classes. At the Department of Functional Diagnostics at the Regional Hospital in Liberec a database of several hundreds signals was collected. In cooperation with the specialist, the signals were manually classified into four classes. For each class, selected signal features were extracted and then used for training a Bayesian classifier. Another set of signals was used for evaluating and optimizing the parameters of the classifier. Slightly above 84 % of successfully recognized diagnostic states, was recently achieved on the test data.
Embedded Operating System for MicroBlaze
Authors: Šimek M.
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a work in progress on experiments with embedded operating systems for the MicroBlaze processor. Modern embedded systems based on a configurable platform incorporating a similar processor core are gaining importance with the ongoing effort to minimize cost and development time. After an overview of the configurable platform based on this processor core, we devote our attention to uClinux OS. This OS has been successfully ported for the MicroBlaze processor, and we present our current experience with it. At the end of the paper we discuss several possible booting strategies and recommend further development of U-BOOT.
Response Analysis of an RC Cooling Tower Under Seismic and Windstorm Effects
Authors: Makovička D.
Published: March 2021

The paper compares the RC structure of a cooling tower unit under seismic loads and under strong wind loads. The calculated values of the envelopes of the displacements and the internal forces due to seismic loading states are compared with the envelopes of the loading states due to the dead, operational and live loads, wind and temperature actions. The seismic effect takes into account the seismic area of ground motion 0.3 g and the ductility properties of a relatively rigid structure. The ductility is assessed as the reduction in seismic load. In this case the actions of wind pressure are higher than the seismicity effect under ductility correction. The seismic effects, taking into account the ductility properties of the structure, are lower than the actions of the wind pressure. The other static loads, especially temperature action due to the environment and surface insulation are very important for the design of the structure.
PT-symmetric Quantum Chain Models
Authors: Znojil M.
Published: March 2021

A review is given of certain tridiagonal N-dimensional non-Hermitian J-parametric real-matrix quantum Hamiltonians H(N). The domains Ɗ(N) of reality of their spectra of energies are studied, with particular attention paid to their exceptional-point boundaries ∂Ɗ(N). The strongest admissible couplings are specified in closed form for all N.
Self-Matching Properties of Beatty Sequences
Authors: Masáková Z. , Pelantová E.
Published: March 2021

We study the selfmatching properties of Beatty sequences, in particular of the graph of the function  ⌊ jβ ⌋ against j for every quadratic unit βϵ (0,1). We show that translation in the argument by an element Gi of a generalized Fibonacci sequence almost always causes the translation of the value of the function by Gi=1. More precisely, for fixed i ϵ ℕ, we have ⌊β(j+Gi)⌋ = ⌊βj⌋ + Gi=1, where j ϵ Ui. We determine the set Ui of mismatches and show that it has a low frequency, namely βi.
Properties of Erbium Doped Hydrogenated Amorphous Carbon Layers Fabricated by Sputtering and Plasma Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Prajzler V. , Burian Z. , Jeřábek V. , Hüttel I. , Špirková J. , Gurovič J. , Oswald J. , Zavadil J. , Peřina V.
Published: March 2021

We report about properties of carbon layers doped with Er3+ ions fabricated by Plasma Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (PACVD) and by sputtering on silicon or glass substrates. The structure of the samples was characterized by X-ray diffraction and their composition was determined by Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy and Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis. The Absorbance spectrum was taken in the spectral range from 400 nm to 600 nm. Photoluminescence spectra were obtained using two types of Ar laser (λex=514.5 nm, lex=488 nm) and also using a semiconductor laser (λex=980 nm). Samples fabricated by magnetron sputtering exhibited typical emission at 1530 nm when pumped at 514.5 nm.
Developing E-learning Courses for Mobile Devices
Authors: Szabados R. , Sipos K.
Published: March 2021

The recent and rapid development of mobile devices and the increasing popularity of e learning have created a demand for mobile learning packages and environments. We have analyzed the possibilities of adapting the existing content for mobile devices, and have implemented two fundamentally different systems to satisfy the demand that has arisen. One of the systems creates e learning courses from existing materials and adapts them to the specified platform (this system realizes the functionalities of the Content Management System). The other system is a modified version of the Moodle Learning Management System, which can adapt existing courses right before displaying them. This paper discuses the fundamentals of e learning, the design considerations and investigates various methods of scalable video coding. Finally the realization details of the two systems are presented.
Stick Based Speckle Reduction for Real-Time Processing of OCT Images on an FPGA
Authors: Luecken H. , Tech G. , Schwann R. , Kappen G.
Published: March 2021

This paper presents an FPGA based real-time implementation of an adaptive speckle reduction algorithm. Applied to the log-compressed image of a high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, all related signal processing steps from envelope detection to VGA video signal generation are executed on a single chip. Images from measured OCT data show that the chosen algorithm produces a smooth, detailed image with fewer image artifacts than comparable approaches. An estimation of the hardware effort, the possible throughput rate and the resulting image frame rate is given for different window sizes used here in speckle reduction.
Power Producer Production Valuation
Authors: Kněžek M.
Published: March 2021

The ongoing developments in the electricity market, in particular the establishment of the Prague Energy Exchange (PXE) and the associated transfer from campaign-driven sale to continuous trading, represent a significant change for power companies.  Power producing companies can now optimize the sale of their production capacities with the objective of maximizing profit from wholesale electricity and supporting services. The Trading Departments measure the success rate of trading activities by the gross margin (GM), calculated by subtracting the realized sales prices from the realized purchase prices and the production cost, and indicate the profit & loss (P&L) to be subsequently calculated by the Control Department. The risk management process is set up on the basis of a business strategy defining the volumes of electricity that have to be sold one year and one month before the commencement of delivery. At the same time, this process defines the volume of electricity to remain available for spot trading (trading limits).
Dimension of Fracture Surfaces
Authors: Ficker T.
Published: March 2021

The question of the universality of a dimension of fracture surfaces is discussed, and it is shown that such a general parameter may exist at least for a particular class of materials.
UNRRA and Support for Science
Authors: Frydryšková J.
Published: March 2021

The Second World War was the most devastating war in history.  Millions of people died, countless cities were destroyed and economic recovery was one of the most important problems dealt with in past-war conferences. The US needed an economically stable Europe, and for this reason they started preparing a recovery program before the war came to an end. One of the most important programs was UNRRA. UNRRA consisted of two parts – relief and rehabilitation. An important part of rehabilitation was the Fellowships Program, which was the first international scholarship program after the Second World War. This program provided scholarships for specialists from every country that received help from UNRRA. These specialists returned to their own country after their residency and helped with the recovery. This was the main reason for the Fellowships program.
HEALTH FAILURE MODE AND EFFECTS ANALYSIS APPLIED TO HOME MECHANICAL VENTILATION
Authors: Gajdoš Ondřej , Rožánek Martin , Kamenský Vojtěch , Kubátová Ivana
Published: March 2021

To use home mechanical ventilation, it is necessary to choose the right target group that can benefit from moving to home care. Moving a patient to home care with home mechanical ventilation involves a number of risks. The aim of this study was to use Health Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (HFMEA) to analyse health risks at a time when a patient is just preparing to move to home care, and a nursing plan is being drawn up. HFMEA was used to analyse health risks. The expert team divided the process of nursing care into 7 parts with other own subprocess, which are 18 in total. Altogether, 41 risks were identified, of which 14 failures were analysed after HFMEA application, potential causes were defined, and their follow-up proposed. According to the results of the method used and the analysis of individual risks, it is necessary to focus on detailed setting of the nursing plan with thorough education of informal caregivers who play an important role in it. The education should be regularly repeated and the check of care itself should be supported by created checklists to confirm the individual steps.
The Integration of 2013 Curriculum with Pesantren Curriculum in Fiqh Subject of Class X at Madrasah Aliyah Al-Mawaddah Ponorogo
Authors: Nurcendani Riska Wahyu , Ratnasari Dwi
Published: March 2021

The aims of this research are to discover the implementation, supporting factors, and inhibiting factors of the integration of the 2013 curriculum with the pesantren curriculum in fiqh subject of class X at Madrasah Aliyah Al-Mawaddah Ponorogo. This research is a field research. The techniques of data collection used were interview, observation, and documentation. The process of analyzing the data of this study used data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and drawing data conclusions. The validity of the data was tested by triagulation technique. The research results show that: (1) The application of the integration of the 2013 curriculum with the KMI curriculum in the subject of fiqh class X Madrasah Aliyah Al-Mawaddah was held by setting the hours of study for one semester to study the KMI fiqh material and repeating the 2013 curriculum (Ministry of Religion Curriculum) fiqh material. (2) Supporting factors are the support of the pesantren leader in form of policies, a similarity in specifications between the subject matter of the 2013 curriculum curriculum (Ministry of Religion) and the KMI curriculum, and the habits of students using Arabic as the language instruction. The inhibiting factors are limited study time and crowded pesantren activities.
Experimental Investigations on The Effect of Tungsten Content on the Machining Behaviour of Tungsten Heavy Alloys
Authors: Sagar Chithajalu Kiran , Priyadarshini Amrita , Gupta Amit Kumar
Published: March 2021

The present work attempts to assess the machinability of tungsten heavy alloys (WHAs) with varying tungsten content in terms of different machining characteristics such as chip thickness, material removal rate, cutting force and surface roughness under varied cutting conditions. The feed rate is found to have major influence on the machining characteristics; whereas the effect of rake angle appears to be marginal. With increase in W content both cutting force and material removal rate increase whereas surface roughness decreases. Since WHAs are difficult to machine, an additional objective of the study is to optimize machining parameters. An optimal balance of the experimental cutting parameters using Grey relational analysis has been achieved, which can be effectively employed for the machining of the alloys with close dimensional tolerances and desirable surface finish.
Kontinuiteta zdravstvene obravnave v patronažnem varstvu po bolnišnični obravnavi otročnice, novorojenčka in ostalih pacientov
Authors: Žele Mojca , Šućurović Albina , Kegl Barbara
Published: March 2021

Uvod: Diplomirane medicinske sestre v patronažnem varstvu se vse pogosteje srečujejo z vse hitrejšimi odpusti iz bolnišnične obravnave. Če je poročanje o odpustu neustrezno, je nadaljevanje zdravstvene obravnave na domu oteženo. Namen raziskave je bil ugotoviti, kako poteka kontinuiteta zdravstvene obravnave v patronažnem varstvu po bolnišnični obravnavi otročnice, novorojenčka in ostalih pacientov ter kako diskontinuiteta vpliva na delo diplomiranih medicinskih sester v patronažnem varstvu.Metode: Uporabljena je bila kvalitativna metodologija raziskovanja. Na namenskem vzorcu sedmih diplomiranih medicinskih sester v patronažnem varstvu so bili izvedeni delno strukturirani intervjuji. Raziskava je potekala med decembrom 2018 in januarjem 2019. Podatke smo obdelali po metodi analize vsebine.Rezultati: Strukturo opisa sestavljajo trije tematski sklopi, ki opredeljujejo poročanje o odpustu iz bolnišnične obravnave: (1) Poročanje o odpustu pacientov iz bolnišnične obravnave; (2) Poročanje o odpustu otročnice in novorojenčka iz porodnišnice; (3) Diskontinuiteta zdravstvene obravnave.Diskusija in zaključek: Izsledki kažejo, da je treba za nadaljevanje zdravstvene obravnave na domu vzpostaviti enoten način obveščanja pri odpustu iz bolnišnične obravnave. Smiselno bi bilo vzpostaviti enoten informacijski sistem na nacionalni ravni. Lahko bi nadgradili že obstoječ sistem »e-Zdravje«, v katerem bi diplomiranim medicinskim sestram v patronažnem varstvu omogočili dostop do zdravstvene dokumentacije.
Wybrane aspekty duchowości biblijnej w pismach św. Urszuli Ledóchowskiej
Authors: Pagacz Małgorzata
Published: March 2021

Artykuł ma na celu ukazanie wybranych aspektów duchowości biblijnej w pismach św. Urszuli Ledóchowskiej. Słowo Boże zajmuje centralne miejsce w duchowości Założycielki Zgromadzenia Sióstr Urszulanek Serca Jezusa Konającego. Matka Ledóchowska jest autorką dzieła Rozmyślania, które zawiera rozważania oparte na poszczególnych fragmentach Ewangelii, przeznaczone na każdy dzień roku. Jej Testament jest również pełny odniesień biblijnych i przeniknięty logiką ewangeliczną. Według świętej Urszuli medytacja Słowa Bożego w duchu wiary pozwala lepiej poznać osobę Jezusa Chrystusa i pogłębiać z Nim więź. Matka Ledóchowska swoim podejściem do Pisma Świętego wyprzedziła II Sobór Watykański. Całe jej życie stanowiło żywą egzegezę słów Chrystusa.
Five-Factor Model Personality Disorder Traits, Health Behaviors, Health Perceptions, and Insomnia Symptoms in Older Adults
Authors: Oltmanns Joshua R. , Widiger Thomas A.
Published: March 2021

Personality traits predict physical health outcomes, including health behaviors, disease, and mortality. Maladaptive traits of personality disorders may predict even more variance in physical health indicators. Dimensional models of maladaptive personality traits are replacing categorical models of personality disorder, and the Five-Factor Model of personality disorder (FFMPD) is a useful dimensional model of maladaptive traits. However, there has been little work investigating the criterion validity of the FFMPD. The present study serves as a broad initial overview of the FFMPD scales in the prediction of health behaviors, heath perceptions, and insomnia symptoms across two time points in a representative community sample of older adults (N = 1,060). Findings indicate that the FFMPD scales explain a significant amount of variance in the physical health variables across time. Exploratory analyses indicate that the FFMPD traits have incremental validity over covariates, normal-range personality traits, and personality disorder criteria.
“We are similar, but different”: Contextualizing the Religious Identities of Indian and Pakistani Immigrant Groups
Authors: Sadhu Ravi
Published: March 2021

This article explores how Indian and Pakistani immigrant groups from the Bay Area in North California relate to and interact with one another. There is limited research on the role of religion in shaping sentiments of distinctiveness or “groupness” among diasporic Indians and Pakistanis in the UK and North America. Through conducting qualitative interviews with 18 Indian and Pakistani immigrants in the Bay Area, I recognized three factors pertaining to religion that were salient in influencing notions of groupness—notions of modernity, sociopolitical factors, and rituals. With respect to these three variables, I flesh out the spectrum of associated groupness; while some factors were linked with high levels of groupness, others enabled the immigrant groups to find commonality with one another. This research is integral to a better understanding of the interactions between South Asians in the diaspora, as well as to gain insight into how these immigrant groups—whose countries of origin share a history of religious conflict—perceive and interact with one another.
Studi Perilaku Monyet Ekor Panjang (Macaca fascicularis Raffles) dan Persepsi Pengunjung di Goa Kreo Kota Semarang pada Masa Pandemi Covid-19
Authors: Santoso Budi
Published: March 2021

Abstrak. Telah dilakukan penelitian mengenai perilaku monyet ekor panjang (Macaca fascicularis Raffles) dan persepsi pengunjung di obyek wisata Goa Kreo yang terletak di Desa Kandri Kecamatan Gunung Pati Kota Semarang. Penelitian dilakukan pada bulan November 2020, dimana pada saat yang sama terjadi pandemi covid-19 yang melanda di hampir seluruh negara di dunia ini.  Pandemi Covid-19 tersebut memaksa pengelola Obyek Wisata Goa Kreo untuk menutup operasional kunjungan wisata selama 3 bulan.  Observasi dilakukan selama 150 menit dengan interval 15 menit, sementara itu responden merupakan pengunjung Goa Kreo yang berasal dari berbagai latar belakang.  Hasil observasi MEP menunjukkan bahwa perilaku monyet ekor panjang di Goa Kreo menunjukkan 25% diam, 17% bergerak, 15% Tidur 13% Self Grooming, 11% grooming, main dan makan masing-masing 10% dan 9%. Sementara itu persepsi pengunjung menunjukkan Goa Kreo menunjukkan 76% tidak mengetahui status konservasi MEP, 12% tidak setuju MEP diberi makan tambahan. Sementara itu tingkat pendidikan responden paling banyak SMA (44%) dan 64% datang ke Goa Kreo karena alasan berlibur.
TENDENCIES, PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF THE BALANCED AND COMPETITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRARIAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN RUSSIA
Authors: DOVBIY I.P. , Mitrofanova I.V. , Russkova E.G. , Shkarupa E.A. , Batmanova V.V. , Mitrofanova I.A.
Published: March 2021

The article displays basic problems and it studies prospects of the development ofthe agrarian entrepreneurship in contemporary Russia. Under the conditions of theforeign economic sanctions, respective Russian counter sanctions and the Russiandirection of a large scale import substitution it is necessary to start the activity in the fieldof the creation of the conditions for the modernization of agrarian technologies ofproduction, in the creation of highly qualified information and analytical services, in thetraining the personnel for the farming, in the increase of the arable surface for workingentrepreneurs doing business in the agricultural sphere. Such measures like the increaseand qualitative improvement of public grasslands and hayfields for cattle from privatesubsidiary farms, development of agricultural cooperation in gathering, storage,processing, formation of lots of goods and the selling of the production of farms andprivate subsidiary farms, development of the infrastructure and logistic provision of ruralareas will allow creating conditions for a competitive and balanced development of theagricultural business.
Adaptation of market gardening in a context of climate variability: the case of marketing gardening at administrative area of Korhogo (Northen Cote-d’Ivoire)
Authors: De Lasme Omer Zephir
Published: March 2021

The rivers and their watersheds are fundamental elements of socioeconomic activities. In this article, we analyze the hydrographic basin of the Acaraú River, situated in the northeast of Brazil, from its geoenvironmental aspects, based on the perspective of the geosystem. In this perspective, a geoenvironmental picture of the hydrographic basin in question is presented, as well as the environmental problems that characterize it, postulating the need to carry out this type of survey to define the basin as a fundamental planning unit. The Acaraú River basin has particular characteristics, since it is located in a poor and extremely populous semi-arid region, which results in socio-environmental stress, whose main consequence is the environmental degradation of the fluvial course. The regional authorities need to be aware of the geoenvironmental elements raised in order to reverse this framework of socio-environmental degradation of water resources and to allow territorial growth based on sustainable development.
Water environment pollution with its impact on human diseases in India
Authors: PR Rakhecha
Published: March 2021

The problem of water pollution in India is not a new one. It has been an age- old practice that people dispose of their waste into rivers and other water bodies. The consumption of polluted water is intimately connected with the occurrence of many deadly diseases. Rapid and unplanned population growth in India is a key factor to the whole equation of water pollution. This paper provides an overview of population growth, the mechanism of water pollutant load, causes of water pollution in India as well as the diseases resulting from the use of polluted water.