bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental Audit as a Tool for the Country's Eco-Innovative Development Ensuring
Authors: Samusevych Yaryna V. , Tenytska Iryna A.
Published: December 2020

The issues of environmental impact reduction became a significant factor in the decision-making process for the development of organizations in the EU. Systematic environmental management is an effective way of solving environmental problems arising in organizations’ activities. Creating an effective environmental audit system is an essential step in ensuring the regulatory response to the extensive level of environmental pollution. To identify the role of environmental audit in the growth of environmental innovation activity of the country, a number of panel multiple regression dependencies were constructed. The survey database includes data for 28 countries of the European Union for the period 2010-2017. Factor variables of the study were the absolute number of environmental audit organizations, their ratio to the total number of enterprises, and the number of environmental audit and management sites. The resulting variables were the value of the index of eco-innovation of countries and its components. The conducted analysis showed that in the European Union countries, an environmental audit is an effective tool for ensuring their eco-innovative development. It is revealed that the biggest positive effect of the growth of the number of environmental audit organizations is manifested in the growth of the scope of eco-innovation activities and the volume of its financing, as well as the increase of the level of environmental responsibility of the organizations. On the other hand, the increase in the density of environmental audit organizations in relation to the number of enterprises is a factor hampering the country's environmental innovation. Research for different groups of countries proves that increasing the level of eco-innovation progress of states leads to an increase in the positive effects of the functioning of the environmental audit system for further eco-innovative development. At the same time, the maximum level of impact of environmental audit on the intensity of eco-innovation activity is observed for countries with an average level of progress. Thus, the necessity of the development of an environmental audit in the formulation of Ukraine's environmental policy was proved.

Keywords: environmental audit, environmental reporting, environmental management, eco-innovation activities, environment.
The State and Trends of Enterprises Efficiency on the Basis of Modern Indicators
Authors: Derev'yanko Yuriy M. , Lukash Olha A. , Litsman Maryna A. , Svitlychna Alona O.
Published: December 2020

One of the most relevant approaches to determining efficiency is rightly considered the attractiveness of the company in terms of investing in it and receiving remuneration by the owners or managers of the company. From these positions, there are three most relevant indicators of efficiency analysis can be distinguished: Return on Equity (ROE), Return on Assets (ROA), and return on EBITDA (EBITDA Margin). The ROE indicator shows how much profit each invested monetary unit brings on capital and is considered a measure of how efficiently the company's management uses its capital to make a profit. Investors most often consider ROE as acceptable provided that its value is not lower than 14 %, and in the case of a value of less than 10 % is a bad value. ROA describes how well a company uses its assets, determining how profitable a company is with respect to its total assets. ROA is best used when comparing similar companies or when comparing a company with its efficiency over previous periods. ROA takes into account the debt obligations of the company, unlike other indicators (in particular, ROE). The EBITDA margin is considered the monetary rate of return on transactions with real money before capital expenditures, taxes, and capital structure. This eliminates the impact and consequences of non-cash expenses, such as depreciation. Investors and owners can understand how much money is generated for each monetary unit of earned income, and use such an indicator as a guideline when comparing different companies. The low EBITDA Margin indicates that the business has problems with profitability, as well as cash flow problems. On the other hand, a relatively high EBITDA Margin means that business profit is stable.

Keywords: efficiency, enterprise, indicator, management.
Internet Platform as a Basis for Effective Promotion of Industrial Enterprises
Authors: Derykolenko Anna O.
Published: December 2020

The article clarifies the definition of an Internet platform. The main markets are identified where the use of Internet platforms would be most appropriate. The existing definition of Internet platforms is analyzed and the author’s vision is proposed, which is based on the research. The main characteristics of the Internet platform for the promotion of industrial goods are highlighted.
It is noted that in the modern world of digital technologies, Internet platforms have wide opportunities and prospects for application by domestic industrial enterprises. The main purpose of the existence of Internet platforms is to help enterprises whose goal is to enter global markets. Due to the high technical level, their implementation can significantly increase the speed of logistics operations, increase the efficiency of activities (communication, logistics, innovation, investment, etc.), improve its quality (thanks to customization), realize unique after-sales service opportunities for various markets, various target consumer groups, etc. The use of Internet platforms by industrial enterprises is, on the one hand, aimed at establishing mutually beneficial relations with stakeholders, and on the other, at coordinating the company's internal business processes with external capabilities and threats. The author formulated the main features of the creation and use of Internet platforms for the promotion of industrial products, identified the business processes of an industrial enterprise when using an Internet platform. Separately, a structural diagram of the business processes of an industrial enterprise using the Internet platform is proposed.

Keywords: Internet platform, business processes, tools, industrial enterprises.
DIRECT TORQUE CONTROL OF A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP POWERED BY A PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM WITH MPPT
Authors:   Laboratoire dAutomatique, dElectronique, dElectrotechnique et dInformatique Industrielle et dEnergie Renouvelable (LA2EI-ER), University Abdou Moumouni (Niamey)., Nabil Alkassoum , Seibou Boureima ,   School of Mines, of Industry and Geology (Niamey)., Mahamadou Nabourkou Ousman ,   School of Mines, of Industry and Geology (Niamey)., Abdoulkarim AssaridIssaka ,   Physics Department, University Abdou Moumouni (Niamey)., Adamou Mamane ,   Laboratoire dAutomatique, dElectronique, dElectrotechnique et dInformatique Industrielle et dEnergie Renouvelable (LA2EI-ER), University Abdou Moumouni (Niamey)., Foulani Andre ,   Laboratoire dAutomatique, dElectronique, dElectrotechnique et dInformatique Industrielle et dEnergie Renouvelable (LA2EI-ER), University Abdou Moumouni (Niamey)., Seidou Maiga Amadou ,   Laboratoire dElectronique, Informatique Telecommunications et dEnergies Renouvelables (LEITER), Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Published: December 2020

Water pumping is a very important operation in the agricultural and industrial fields. Due to its arid nature, our Saharan environment has a significant solar energy resource that allows the installation of water pumping systems using photovoltaic solar pumps. For this type of system, and to improve its performance, a prior theoretical study is necessary. Given the intermittent and fluctuating nature of the solar resource, it is essential to set up a system that allows its optimal exploitation. The aim of this work is to describe, develop and simulate a direct control of the DTC torque of a solar pumping system with optimised efficiency. The system consists of a three-phase asynchronous motor, coupled to a centrifugal pump, powered by a photovoltaic generator. The operation of the photovoltaic generator will be ensured at its maximum power via the MPPT control of a BOOST converter. Two control strategies for the motor pump were implemented and compared.The first, based on a sinus-delta MPPT control of the three-phase inverter supplying the motor pump. The second,uses direct torque control DTC to control the operation of the induction motor driving the centrifugal pump. The DTC control technology will be further developed. A dynamic model of the motor driving the pump will be shown. The performance provided by the introduction of DTC control will be presented. In addition, a control system will be established in this work, which allows the set speed of the asynchronous machine and thus the pump output to be set according to the state of sunlight. The complete model of the established system will be implemented and simulated in the simulation environment of the MATLAB software.
Impact of internal and external factors on the net interest margin of banks in Indonesia
Authors: Endri Endri , Marlina Asti , Hurriyaturrohman
Published: December 2020

This study aims to assess the impact of bank-specific factors and macroeconomic indicators on the net interest margin (NIM) of commercial banks in Indonesia. Data from Indonesian commercial banks are used. Data are collected from the banks’ annual reports and the Financial Services Authority (OJK) for the period 2008 to 2018. A panel data regression model is used to estimate the effect of bank-specific and macroeconomic factors. The results prove that the variables of Non-Performing Loans (NPL), Loan to Deposit Ratio (LDR), Return on Assets (ROA), Interest Rate (SBI), and Exchange Rate (FOREX) affect NIM. The exchange rate variable has a predominant effect, while the NPL factor has a less strong influence on NIM. The empirical evidence from this research is important for commercial banks in Indonesia to improve operational efficiency through NIM performance. Internal and external factors of a bank should be subject of attention of bank managers.
Examining public acceptance choice causes on sales and service tax implementation in Malaysia
Authors: Erma Suryani Mohd Jamel Nur , Muse Johnson Popoola Oluwatoyin
Published: December 2020

In Malaysia, the indirect tax environment is evolving fast, and the risk has never been higher. The public perception of Sales and Service Tax (SST) as a business cost aggravates the increase in essential needs prices. Hence, the heavy burden on Malaysians’ income, which ultimately constitutes a big worry and outcry, makes the study relevant. The study investigates the relationship between selected causes of equity and fairness (tax fairness), certainty (tax burden), accountability to taxpayers, tax knowledge, and public acceptance of SST implementation in Malaysia. Data were collected through a structured survey among the public in Klang Valley. Respondents were chosen randomly from various locations in public and private sector organizations. A total of 177 out of the 228 completed and received questionnaires are found suitable for further analysis. The study adopts the SmartPLS version 3.3.2 statistical analysis tool to test the four hypotheses formulated. The study results reveal tax fairness, tax burden, and government accountability are significant and positively relate to public acceptance of SST implementation in Malaysia. This further buttressed that tax fairness, tax burden, and government accountability are critical for public acceptance of SST implementation because of their economic implications. In contrast, tax knowledge is not significant and negatively relates to public acceptance of SST implementation. The effect indicates that tax knowledge is not an essential factor as far as public acceptance of SST implementation is concerned in Malaysia.
Wild boar behaviour and the epidemiological significance of this animal species as the main reservoir of the African swine fever virus
Authors: TARASIUK KAZIMIERZ , GIŻEJEWSKI ZYGMUNT
Published: December 2020

Recent years (since 2013) have witnessed an increasing interest in wild boars in Europe because this animal species has become the most important reservoir of the African swine fever virus (ASFV). In all countries affected by ASF since 2013, the virus originated in wild boar populations, and the disease was directly or indirectly transmitted from wild boars to domestic pigs. In Poland, the first known case of ASF was detected in February 2014, and nearly 10 300 cases were reported by the end of April 2020. A correlation was found between the density of wild boar populations and the number of ASF cases. The global population of wild boars has increased considerably, and their natural range has expanded, particularly northward and westward. The mean annual growth rate in the wild boar population in Europe is around 100%. Milder winters and agricultural transformations that involve growing a single crop (in particular, maize) over large areas are the key factors contributing to the increase in the number of wild boars. In the opinion of most experts, recreational hunting is not sufficient to control the expansion of wild boar populations in Europe. Undoubtedly, wild boar populations will continue to be the main reservoir of the ASFV for many years to come, and wild boars will remain the major risk factor for ASF spread in commercial pig herds. Therefore, a new long-term approach to wild boar population management is needed
Beet pulp dietary fiber exposed to an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field: detoxification properties
Authors: Tamova Maya , Barashkina Elena , Tretyakova Natalʹya , Zhuravlev Rostislav , Penov Nikolay
Published: December 2020

Introduction. The lack of dietary fibre in the Russian people diet contributes to the development of various diseases. In this regard, it seems worthwhile to enrich foods with dietary fibre obtained from various types of raw materials. In our experiments, we used beet pulp. This study aimed to develop a technology for obtaining combined dietary fibre using the electrophysical method and evaluate its detoxification properties.

Study objects and methods. Study objects were pectin substances and combined detoxicants from beet pulp obtained by extracting with succinic acid with and without an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EM) treatment. The profiles of combined detoxicants and pectin substances were identified by IR-Fourier spectrometry. Beet pectin, beet cellulose, and their combined detoxicants were tested for complexing (binding) capacity with respect to lead ions (Pb2+). For this, we applied the trilonometric method with some modifications.

Results and discussion. The analysis of the absorption bands of carboxyl groups carbonyls revealed the presence of free carboxyl groups in the combined detoxicants. The combined detoxicant with a 1:0.5 ratio of cellulose and pectin substances showed a high complexing (binding) capacity (601 mg/Pb2+) with respect to lead ions (Pb2+).

Conclusion. We developed a technology for producing combined detoxicants with a high complexing capacity with respect to lead ions analysed microstructures of gels obtained during the interaction between the combined detoxicant and lead acetate solution.
The potential of integrated hybrid pre-post-processing techniques for short- to long-term drought forecasting
Authors: Roushangar Kiyoumars , Ghasempour Roghayeh , Nourani Vahid
Published: December 2020

Due to the drought negative impacts, accurate forecasting of drought indices is important. This study focused on the short- to long-term Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) forecasting in sites with different climates using newly integrated hybrid pre-post-processing techniques. Four sites in Iran's northwest were selected and the SPIs series with time scales of 3, 9, and 24 months were forecasted during the period of 1978–2017. For improving the modeling efficiency, wavelet transform and ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) pre-processing methods were used. In this regard, temporal features of the SPIs series were decomposed via wavelet transform (WT), then, the obtained sub-series were further broken down into intrinsic mode functions using EEMD. Also, simple linear averaging and nonlinear neural ensemble post-processing methods were applied to ensemble the outputs of hybrid models. The results showed that data pre-processing enhanced the models' capability up to 40%. Also, integrated pre-post-processing models improved the models' efficiency by approximately 50%. The root mean square errors' criteria distribution range decreased from 0.337–1.03 (in raw data) to 0.195–0.714 (in decomposed data). The results proved the capability of applied methods in modeling the SPIs series. In increasing the models' accuracy, data pre-processing was more effective than data post-processing.
Impact of climate change on surface runoff: a case study of the Darabad River, northeast of Iran
Authors: Zakizadeh Hamid Reza , Ahmadi Hassan , Zehtabiyan Gholam Reza , Moeini Abolfazl , Moghaddamnia Alireza
Published: December 2020

Climate change is one of the major challenges affecting natural ecosystems and various aspects of human life. The effects of global warming on the hydrology and water cycle in nature are very serious, and the quantitative recognition of these effects creates more readiness to deal with its consequences. In the present study, the 2006–2100 period is predicted based on the statistical downscaling model (SDSM). Finally, the effects of climate change on the hydrological conditions in the Darabad watershed are simulated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The SWAT model calibration is done based on the SUFI-2 algorithm, and the effective and optimal parameter is identified. The results of the study, while confirming the efficiency of both SDSM in climate simulations and SWAT in hydrological simulation, showed that the increase in precipitation and temperature is probably in future climate conditions for the 2010–2040 period. The surface flow and runoff at the watershed area during the observation period (1970–2010) is 0.29 m3/s, but this value for the predicted period with regard to climate change in the RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5 scenarios is equal to 0.43, 0.44, and 0.45 m3/s. The results of research, while highlighting the importance of effects of climate change, make it essential to apply them for proper management in order to adapt to climate change in the future policies of the Darabad watershed management.
The removal of Mg2+ and Ca2+ and turbidity from aqueous solution employing copolymerization of ethyl acrylate onto guar gum
Authors: Ntwampe I. O.
Published: December 2020

Acid mine drainage collected from decant in Krugersdorp, South Africa, was treated in a series of laboratory experiments using synthesized copolymer of guar gum-g-polymer (GG) for the removal of calcium and magnesium and turbidity. 250 mL of sample and 25 mL distilled water were added into 16 Erlenmeyer flasks. The samples were irradiated in a micro-oven at 900 W for 3 min and the mixtures were placed in a soxhlet extractor for homopolymerization, after which they were dried and crushed. The results showed an exponential increasing adsorption efficiency of calcium removal with increasing pH range 2–4, and a slight increase between the pH range 4–8. On the other hand, the results showed a continuous increasing adsorption removal efficiency of magnesium with increasing pH in a range 2–8. The results showed a slight increasing adsorption efficiency of calcium removal with increasing dosage between 15 and 25 mg/L of GG, an exponential increase between 15 and 35 mg/L and resuming a slight increase between 45 and 55 mg/L dosage. On the other hand, the results showed an exponential increasing adsorption efficiency of magnesium removal between 15 and 54 mg/L dosage and slight increasing trend between 45 and 55 mg/L dosage.
Study on mechanism and application of water resources system adaptability under changing environment
Authors: Zhengwei Pan , Yuliang Zhou , Jing Wang , Yingying Qiu
Published: December 2020

The water resources system is in a vulnerable situation because of the influence of climate change and the changing environment. The adaptation mechanism was discussed through the analysis of the process of passive response, adaptation and even active adjustment of water resources system under changing environment. The adaptability of the water resources system can be described as natural resilience (NR) of natural system and artificial adaptation (AA) social (artificial) system. The natural resilience indexes were identified and analyzed from the aspects of water quantity, water quality and water ecology. The artificial adaptation indexes were identified and analyzed from the aspects of resource, eco-environment, socio-economic and technical factors. On this basis, the index system was constructed in accord with process mechanism of water resources system adaptability. Besides, to address the two-dimension factors of water resources system adaptability, a method of system analysis based on connection numbers–fuzzy risk matrix was proposed based on the theory of risk matrix. The synthesis interval [Apess, Aopt] of water resources system adaptability is obtained, by defining the pessimistic criterion when two-dimension factors meet the evaluation standard at the same time, and the optimistic criterion when either of the two-dimension factors meets evaluation standard. Finally, the case study in the Huaihe River basin in China was carried out. The results show that the adaptability level of water resources system in the Huaihe River basin expressed fluctuating uprising tendency in 2006–2015. The adaptability level is the lowest [1.856, 2.625] in 2009, the highest [2.500, 3.536] in 2015.
The contribution of ecology to science
Authors: Hałaczek Bernard
Published: December 2020

This article is an analysis of the creative function of ecology in terms of knowledge. That is why the ecology asks "how should be". In this way, it faces a true human problem.
Axiological principles of integrated protection of human and natural environments
Authors: Bołoz Wojciech
Published: December 2020

Over the last few decades, we have witnessed a significant change in human mentality and attitudes towards the natural environment and its protection. This change is accompanied by different axiological principles within which we can distinguish: 1) the anthropocentric concept which places man in the centre and grants him a privileged place amongst other species; 2) the anti-anthropocentric concept which stresses the equality of all species and demands a reversal in humanistic orientation consolidated by the European Enlightenment; 3) the moderate anthropocentric concept which underlines human’s caring and a responsible role towards the ecosystem. As disturbances of ecological balance are the result of human actions and the sign of the cultural crisis, the necessity to protect the natural environment should be realised. John Paul II was a supporter of the above. He referred to the integrated ecology, which combines the protection of the natural environment with the concern of the quality of human spirituality. Integrated ecology poses two demands: 1) all actions towards environmental protection should be understood as means of confirming the respect of human personal dignity; 2) those actions which harm the natural environment and threaten man should be given up.
Human subjectivity in the prenatal period
Authors: Biesaga Tadeusz
Published: December 2020

The article rejects various attempts to negate the subjectivity of human embryo, formulated among others in the Polish debate entitled 'Stem cells - life for life?' and organised by the Ministry of Scientific Research and Information Technology in 2003 and 2004. The Author thinks that the proposal to treat a human embryo as a deceased donor of organs, is wrong both in the field of embryology and philosophical anthropology. It is also wrong to question the subjectivity of human embryo using various criteria of growth (developed nervous system, brain, consciousness, participation in the life of society and looking after one's own interests). For these criteria do not define humanity but describe human being in various phases of expressions of his/her human nature. That is why it is not acceptable to make the right to life conditional on the stage and degree of the actualization of humanity. Furthermore, one cannot justify the deprivation of the subjectivity of human embryo because of medical progress and the so-called good of humankind. The acceleration of progress cannot be done at the cost of life of some group of human beings.
The impact of earthworms on collembolan (Collembola) communities in grass mono- and polycultures
Authors: Olejniczak Izabella , Makulec Grzegorz
Published: December 2020

In 2004-2005, a lysimetric experiment was designed to determine whether and how plant diversity and earthworms could influence diversity and densities of collembolan communities. We compared two types of crops: monoculture of Festuca rubra L. and a polyculture, the mixture of grasses (8 species) commonly used in agriculture. In addition to two plant communities of different diversity, we used in our experiments an engineering species of earthworm – Aporrectodea caliginosa (Sav.). The experiment was initiated in May 2004, when the lysimeters were sown with F. rubra or with a mixture of grasses. The following year, in May 2005, we introduced 6 individuals (that correspond with average densities of 200 ind. m-2 in the natural environment) of A. caliginosa to half of the lysimeters. Soil samples were taken at the depths of 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-15 cm and 15-20 cm, before introducing earthworms and after 60, 120 and 180 days from introducing earthworms. We found that soil layer (Kruskal-Wallis test: N=432, H=18.25, P=0.0004), biodiversity of grass culture (N=432, H=14.59, P=0.0001) and the period of the season (N=432, H=24.24, P=0.0000) had an important effect on densities of collembolan communities independently of earthworms presence (N=432, H=1.99, P=0.16). We found 18 species of springtails and the number of species decreased with soil layer. The most abundant were Proisotomodes bipunctatus and Isotomodes productus.
Characteristics of local inflammation of the fibula bone material from Tell Masaikh (Syria)
Authors: Mańkowska-Pliszka Hanna , Tomczyk Jacek
Published: December 2020

Inflammatory states usually precede the development of an organ or systemic pathologies. Whether a given infection that causes such a state has a chance to develop, depends on many individual and environmental factors. Post-inflammatory changes can be traced in the osseous material. Therefore, macroscopic, radiological and  histological analysis was performed  on the upper epiphysis of the right fibula (caput fibulae) with a lesion within the articular surface turned towards the tibia (facies articularis capitis fibulae). The research material came from the excavations led in Tell Masaikh (Syria).
ROS-Responsive Nanomedicine: Towards Targeting the Breast Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Malla Rama Rao , Kamal Mohammad Amjad
Published: December 2020

The breast tumor microenvironment (TME) promotes drug resistance through
an elaborated interaction of TME components mediated by reactive oxygen species
(ROS). Although there is massive accumulation of data concerning the targeting of the
ROS, little is known about the ROS-responsive nanomedicine for targeting breast TME.
This review submits the ROS landscape in breast TME, including ROS biology, ROS mediated
carcinogenesis, and reprogramming of stromal and immune cells of TME. We also
discussed ROS-based precision strategies for imaging TME, including molecular imaging
techniques with advanced probes, multiplexed methods, and multi-omic profiling
strategies. ROS-responsive nanomedicine also describes various therapies, such as chemo-
dynamic, photodynamic, photothermal, sono-dynamic, immune, and gene therapy for
BC. We expound ROS-responsive primary delivery systems for chemotherapeutics, phytochemicals,
and immunotherapeutics. This review also presents recent updates on nanotheranostics
for simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of BCs. We assume that a review
on this advancing field will be beneficial to the development of ROS-based nano-theranostics
for BC.
Craniofacial Fibrous Dysplasia Involvements of Mccune-Albright Syndrome: A Review with an Additional Case
Authors: Özcan İlknur , Ünsal Gürkan , Koca Revan Birke , Orhan Kaan
Published: December 2020

Background:

McCune-Albright Syndrome (MAS) is a genetic disorder with a triad of
endocrine diseases, café-au-lait macules and fibrous dysplasias. Craniofacial fibrous dysplasia is a
term that is used to describe the fibrous dysplasia, which was localized at the craniofacial skeleton
and is common in MAS patients.

Objective:

The objective of this review is to determine the involvement frequency of cranial and facial
bones in patients with MAS and CFD.

Methods:

Articles in PubMed was searched with the following details “(mccune[Title/Abstract]
OR albright[Title/Abstract]) OR (“craniofacial fibrous dysplasia”[MeSH Terms] OR (“craniofacial”[
All Fields] AND “fibrous”[All Fields] AND “dysplasia”[All Fields]) OR “craniofacial fibrous
dysplasia”[All Fields])”. The articles in which the authors did not state the involved bones or
did not add any radiographic images were excluded from the study.

Results:

26 cases in 25 articles met the inclusion criteria. Among the 26 cases and our case,
sphenoid and frontal bones were involved in 17 cases, parietal and occipital bones were involved in
15 cases, mandible and ethmoid bone were involved in 14 cases, maxilla-zygoma-temporal and
palate was involved in 13, 11, 6 and 3 cases, respectively. Palate was involved in cases where maxilla
was also involved. Our case was the only case that was evaluated with CBCT.

Conclusion:

Routine follow-ups are important since new CFDs can occur in different cranial or facial
bones. 2D imaging techniques may not be able to demonstrate early CFDs; thus, an advanced
imaging technique should be used after MAS diagnosis.
Molecular Evaluation of MicroRNA-146 Gene Variability (rs2910164 C> G) and its Association with Increased Susceptibility to Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Mir Rashid , Elfaki Imadeldin , Jha Chandan , Javid Jamsheed , Rehman Suriya , Banu Shaheena , Mir Mohammad Muzaffar , Babakr Abdullatif Taha , Chahal Sukh Mohinder Singh
Published: December 2020

Aim:

Apart from the modifiable risk factors, genetic factors are believed to influence the
outcome of Coronary Artery Diseases (CAD). Under the genetic factors, miRNA polymorphisms,
namely Hsa-miR-146a-5p (rs2910164) have become an important tool to study the mechanism that
underlies the pathogenesis of this disease. Therefore, we investigated the association of miR-146a
gene variations with susceptibility of coronary artery diseases.

Methodology:

This study was conducted on 100 CAD patients and 117 matched healthy individuals.
Genotyping of the Hsa-miR-146a-5p C>G gene variation was performed by using Amplification
Refractory Mutation System PCR method (ARMS-PCR).

Results:

The distribution of Hsa-miR-146a-5p rs2910164 C>G genotypes observed between patients
and controls was significantly different (P=0.048). Moreover, the frequency of G allele (fG)
was found to be significantly higher among patients than in controls (0.36 vs. 0.25). Our findings
showed that the Hsa-miR-146a-5p C>G variant was associated with an increased risk of CAD in codominant
inheritance model CC vs. CG genotype (OR = 1.84, 95% CI, 1.02-3.31; p=0.040) and
(OR = 3.18, 95% CI, 1.02-9.9; p=0.045) for CC vs. GG genotype in dominant inheritance model.
Whereas the G allele significantly increased the risk of coronary artery disease (OR =1,81, 95% CI,
1.18-2.78; p=0.006) compared to C allele. Taken together, these results demonstrated that
miR-146a/rs2910164 is associated with susceptibility to coronary artery disease, providing novel
insights into the genetic etiology and underlying biology of coronary artery disease.

Conclusion:

Our findings indicated that Hsa-miR-146a-5p rs2910164 GG genotype and G allele
are associated with increased susceptibility to Coronary Artery Disease. A larger sample size can
be the key to progress in establishing the genetic co-relation of miRNA gene polymorphisms and
cardiovascular diseases.
CONFIRMATORY ANALYSIS OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP DIMENSION TO THE INDONESIAN ACADEMIC LEADER
Authors:   Universitas Ciputra Surabaya, Melinda Tina , Antonio Tony ,   Universitas Ciputra Surabaya, Christina Christina ,   Universitas Ciputra Surabaya
Published: December 2020

Understanding Leadership in tertiary education is interesting. Greenleaf, the father of Servant Leadership, has been inspired by several Servant Leadership issues in college before he published his seminal paper on servant leadership. After surveying 11 models and scales of Servant leadership we finally apply the 35-item, six-dimension mea- sure of Servant Leadership Behavior Scale (SLBS). This multi-dimensional measurement was developed by Sendjaya. This study investigates and validates the 6 dimensions and 35 attributes of Servant Leadership. A 35-question questionnaire is used to measure the quality of department heads as the academic leaders in higher education. We study the Servant Leadership Dimension of Head of Department with 120 faculty members. Confirmatory factor analysis is performed to verify and validate the dimension of Servant leadership. It is found that the scale can be used in the context of higher education with one or two significant attributes in every dimension.
Reseña. Sorting Out the Mixed Economy. The Rise and Fall of Welfare and Developmental States in the Americas. Offner, Amy C. (2019). Princeton University Press
Authors: Sánchez-Calderón Vladimir
Published: December 2020

El libro de Amy Offner, derivado de su tesis doctoral, la cual recibió el premio a la mejor tesis en historia económica en Estados Unidos, aborda varias temáticas relevantes para la historia económica de la segunda mitad del siglo XX en Colombia, América Latina y Estados Unidos. Su trabajo se puede ubicar dentro de las historias conectadas (Bernand, 2018), tendencia historiográfica que se ha consolidado en diversos campos de la historia y que puede ser particularmente fecunda para analizar los procesos concretos de transformación de los modelos de desarrollo económico a nivel global, objeto central del texto de Offner. La autora, profesora de la Universidad de Pennsylvania, sostiene que el remplazo del modelo capitalista conocido como de “economía mixta” —que dominó la escena política y económica de todo el continente entre la década de 1930 y el final de los años setenta— por el modelo “neoliberal” —desde la década de los años ochenta— debe ser analizado como un proceso de transformación, puesto que efectivamente el capitalismo de comienzos del siglo XX era un modelo nuevo, pero hecho con materiales familiares (p. 275).
Las patentes y la pandemia, entrevista con Arjun Jayadev
Authors: Gómez-Ramírez Leopoldo
Published: December 2020

En coautoría con Joseph Stiglitz, premio nobel de economía, y Achal Prabalha, coordinador del proyecto Access IBSA, el economista hindú Arjun Jayadev[1] publicó la pieza “Patents vs. the Pandemic”. Con ocasión de ella, conversé con él en 400 Voces, programa de entrevistas emitido por la Emisora Uninorte. Lo que sigue son partes de esa conversación.

[1] Arjun Jayadev hizo su doctorado en economía en la Universidad de Massachusetts en Amherst (USA). Actualmente (julio 2020) es profesor en Azim Premji University (India) y economista senior del Institute for New Economic Thinking (USA). Sus artículos de investigación académica han sido publicados, entre otras, en las revistas Development and Change, Cambridge Journal of Economics, Journal of Globalization and Development, Journal of Development Economics y American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics.
Use of Geosocial Networking Apps and HIV Risk Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: Case-Crossover Study
Authors: Knox Justin , Chen Yi-No , He Qinying , Liu Guowu , Jones Jeb , Wang Xiaodong , Sullivan Patrick , Siegler Aaron
Published: December 2020

Background

HIV disproportionately affects men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. The HIV epidemic is largely driven by unprotected anal sex (ie, sex not protected by condoms or HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis [PrEP]). The possible association between unprotected anal sex and the use of geospatial networking apps has been the subject of scientific debate.

Objective

This study assessed whether users of a gay geospatial networking app in China were more likely to use condoms when they met their partners online versus offline. A case-crossover analysis, with each person serving as his own control, was employed to address the potential bias that men looking for sex partners through an online dating medium might have inherently different (and riskier) patterns of sexual behavior than men who do not use online dating media.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was administered in 2018 to adult male users of Blued—a gay geospatial networking app—in Beijing, Tianjin, Sichuan, and Yunnan, China. A case-crossover analysis was conducted among 1311 MSM not taking PrEP who reported engaging in both unprotected and protected anal sex in the previous 6 months. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to quantify the association between where the partnership was initiated (offline or online) and the act of unprotected anal sex, controlling for other interval-level covariates. Four sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess other potential sources of bias.

Results

We identified 1311 matched instances where a person reported having both an unprotected anal sex act and a protected anal sex act in the previous 6 months. Of the most recent unprotected anal sex acts, 22.3% (292/1311), were initiated offline. Of the most recent protected anal sex acts, 16.3% (214/1311), were initiated offline. In multivariable analyses, initiating a partnership offline was positively associated with unprotected anal sex (odds ratio 2.66, 95% CI 1.84 to 3.85, P<.001) compared with initiating a partnership online. These results were robust to each of the different sensitivity analyses we conducted.

Conclusions

Among Blued users in 4 Chinese cities, men were less likely to have unprotected anal sex in partnerships that they initiated online compared with those that they initiated offline. The relationship was strong, with over 2.5 times the likelihood of engaging in unprotected anal sex in partnerships initiated offline compared with those initiated online. These findings suggest that geospatial networking apps are a proxy for, and not a cause of, high-risk behaviors for HIV infection; these platforms should be viewed as a useful venue to identify individuals at risk for HIV transmission to allow for targeted service provision.
Associations Between Emotions, Social Media Use, and Sun Exposure Among Young Women: Ecological Momentary Assessment Study
Authors: Willoughby Jessica Fitts , Myrick Jessica Gall , Gibbons Stephanie , Kogan Clark
Published: December 2020

Background

Research has pointed to a connection between social media use, emotions, and tanning behaviors. However, less is known about the role specific emotions may play in influencing social media use and how emotions and social media use may each be associated with outdoor tanning.

Objective

This paper aims to examine the connection between emotions, social media use, and outdoor tanning behaviors among young women, a group particularly important for skin cancer prevention efforts.

Methods

We used ecological momentary assessment to collect data from 197 women aged 18 to 25 years 3 times a day for 7 days in July 2018. We collected data from women in 2 states.

Results

We found that boredom was associated with increased time spent on social media and that increased time spent on social media was associated with increased time spent outdoors without sun protection.

Conclusions

Our results highlight that social media may be a particularly important channel for skin cancer prevention efforts targeting young women, as more social media use was associated with increased time spent outdoors with skin exposed. Researchers should consider the role of emotions in motivating social media use and subsequent tanning behaviors. Additionally, as boredom was associated with social media use, intervention developers would benefit from developing digital and social media interventions that entertain as well as educate.
Physical Characteristics of Entrance Areas of Coss Passage alongside Jl. Agro, Yogyakarta
Authors: Yurista Hardika Dinata  , Wijono Djoko
Published: December 2020

This study aimed to determine the physical characteristics of the entrance areas of cross passage alongside Jl. Agro, Yogyakarta. This study was a descriptive qualitative research, where the observational cases were determined based on the purposive sampling technique. The research results showed that commercial buildings with a short seatback constructed the wall space around the entrance areas of cross passage. The scale of the road space was formed by a combination of balanced and narrow space affected by the height of the building. Street floor space, signage, and vegetation showed different patterns at each entrance areas of cross passage. As part of street furniture, gate and sculpture turned into a strong identity in the cross-passage area. There were nine entrance areas of cross passage as a case of observation. The nine cases' physical appearance showed the distinctive form of the archipelago and local identity as three different elements bound them: urban village area as a local identity, Mataram ditch as a heritage of the agricultural system, and universities as a generator of activity.
Rhotic Environments
Authors: McDermott Christina
Published: December 2020

This study examines if a listener’s exposure to nonrhotic dialects of English affects how they perceive rhoticity in words spoken in a Boston English accent. Listener judgments on the rhoticity of both nonce words and words in phrases were elicited through a 120-question survey. The results suggest that listeners from the United States who grew up in regions where nonrhotic dialects are prevalent perceived /ɹ/ in certain nonrhotic articulations more than their counterparts did.
“Un festín libertino”. La seducción y el control de los sentidos en Le Sopha de Crébillon hijo
Authors: Gómez Velázquez José Luis
Published: December 2020

El siglo XVIII en Francia se caracteriza por la creación artística en dos vertientes. Por un lado, la producción de la filosofía ilustrada y, por el otro, la producción de textos y obras plásticas consideradas como libertinas. Para cristalizar los procesos estéticos del modelo libertino hacemos un análisis de los placeres del cuerpo y su materialización en un texto representativo como Le Sopha (1742) de Crébillon hijo. El tejido narrativo le permite al libertino controlar un entorno que le facilita a él, y a sus compañeros de placer, la exaltación de cada uno de los cinco sentidos: un festín que engloba desde el gusto hasta el olfato. Este artículo rastrea estos “placeres de la boca” que se desarrollan dentro de la estructura del cuento oriental de Crébillon hijo antes mencionado.
En el mundo de Miss Honey: transformación y simbolismo culinario en Matilda y Charlie y la fábrica de chocolate, de Roald Dahl
Authors: Hörner Botaya Dolores
Published: December 2020

El escritor en lengua inglesa Roald Dahl (1916-1990) es un referente ineludible de la literatura infantil de mediados del siglo XX. En sus novelas Charlie y la fábrica de Chocolate (1964) y Matilda (1988), el simbolismo culinario se configura alrededor de tres estrategias narrativas fundamentales para su poética: representar las relaciones de poder, subvertir la tradición de la literatura infantil en tanto género “didáctico” o aleccionador y funcionar como un elemento de transformación al interior de las tramas. Partiendo del cuento de hadas tradicional, Dahl reinventó la tradición literaria para niños y configuró un universo metafórico donde las relaciones de poder entre niño y adulto se ven trastocadas. Al utilizar la comida como signo polisémico para retratar y resignificar las relaciones de poder entre niños y adultos, Dahl subvierte y rinde homenaje a la literatura infantil clásica y a los cuentos de hadas tradicionales.
Where the Blizzard is Born: límites y recursos para representar la realidad polar en dos documentales de la era silente
Authors: Arce García Daniel
Published: December 2020

Este estudio analiza la forma en que dos largometrajes documentales de la era silente —Nanook of the North (Flaherty, 1922) y The Great White Silence (Ponting, 1924)— mantienen una sensación de autenticidad en el discurso a pesar de que ciertas partes de su composición pudieran considerarse falsas o fabricadas de acuerdo con los criterios positivistas que han plagado a la fotografía y el cine desde sus albores. Debido tanto a las limitaciones del cine temprano como a las dificultades particulares de filmar en el Ártico y la Antártida, los realizadores debieron utilizar una amplia gama de recursos discursivos y materiales (como los intertítulos, la construcción de sets y las escenas ensayadas) para representar lo que percibieron como verdadero acerca de las regiones polares, recursos que serán analizados con referencia a las cuatro funciones discursivas descritas por Michael Renov en “Towards a Poetics of Documentary”, con especial énfasis en la primera, la de registro/preservación. Dado que el género del documental fílmico nació como concepto en 1926, considerar el despliegue de dichos recursos para la construcción de la verdad en estos dos filmes más tempranos puede servir para repensar desde la práctica la relación de todo documental con la ficción, la representación y la realidad ontológica de los objetos filmados, trascendiendo los valores positivistas y dirigiéndonos hacia un entendimiento más flexible de las técnicas cinematográficas que posibilitan el registro fílmico de algo que se considera verdadero, pero no puede ser representado sin artificio artístico.
Reseñas bibliográficas
Authors: Brando Oscar
Published: December 2020

Reseñas de los libros: 

- Cultura y cinefilia. Historia del público de la Cinemateca Uruguaya, de Germán Silveira. 

- La conquista del espacio. Cine silente uruguayo (1915-1932), de Georgina Torello
A Multi-Centre Snapshot Study Comparing Acute Urological Admissions during the COVID-19 Lockdown to a pre-COVID Period
Authors: Okwu Nyemahame , Ravindraanandan Manoj , Davies Rhian , Yallappa Sachin , Rajjayabun Paul
Published: December 2020

Introduction

COVID-19 has had a devastating effect around the globe with over 560,000 deaths and 12.8 million people now infected as of 13 July according to WHO, 2020. Our study looked at the pandemic’s effect on acute admissions across two institutions compared to the same time (23 March to 30 April) in 2019.

Method

We collected data using records from the hospital’s coding department, analysed patients discharge letters, and grouped patients by their final diagnoses. We also looked at variances in daily acute admission numbers. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-squared test and descriptive statistics.

Results

One hundred seventy-six patients were admitted in 2019 and 92 patients in 2020. There was a 58% significant reduction in acute admissions in 2020 (p<0.0000226).

Five (5.43%) patients died in 2020 compared to four (2.27%) in 2019, and the most common presentation was renal colic, 23% rising to 29% in 2020.

Conclusion

There was a significant reduction in acute urological admissions during the UK lockdown period. Possibly as a consequence, the mortality rate doubled. Further analysis with larger cohorts is recommended for future studies.
Terminología del parentesco Guahibo
Authors: V. Robert , Morey Nancy
Published: December 2020

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