bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Removing negative impacts from inevitable non-reproducible and non-specific antibody-probe interactions in viral serology
Authors: Xu Wenwen , Chen Hao , Li Yiting , Cheng Hu , Deng Yi , Zheng Peiyan , Li Jingzhi , Yang Lan , He Shiping , Ma Dongli , Zhu Qiang , Gu Dayong , Han Jun , Sun Baoqing , Ma Hongwei
Published: April 2022

Serological assays are indispensable tools in public health. Presently deployed serological assays, however, largely overlook research progress made in the last two decades that jeopardize the conceptual foundation of these assays, i.e., antibody (Ab) specificity. Challenges to traditional understanding of Ab specificity include Ab poly-specificity, and most recently non-reproducible Ab-probe interactions (NRIs). Here, using SARS-CoV-2 and 4 common livestock viruses as a test bed, we developed a new serological platform that integrates recent understanding about Ab specificity. We first demonstrate that the response rate (RR) from a large sized serum pool (~100) is not affected by NRIs or by non-specific Ab-probe interactions (NSIs), so RR can be incorporated into the diagnostic probe selection process. We subsequently used multiple probes (configured as a “protein peptide hybrid microarray”, PPHM) to generate a digital microarray index (DMI), and finally demonstrate that DMI-based analysis yields an extremely robust probabilistic trend that enables accurate diagnosis of viral infection that overcomes multiple negative impacts exerted by NSI/NRI. Thus, our study with SARS-CoV-2 confirms that the PPHM-RR-DMI platform enables very rapid development of serological assays that outperform traditional assays (for both sensitivity and specificity) and supports that the platform is extendable to other viruses.
The normalized activity index – an alternative transformation to logarithmic calculus of the activity index
Authors: Fuchs Joel Emanuel
Published: April 2022

The Activity Index (AI) is a well-known index for comparing the contribution of different entities on various fields, for example scientific articles with authorships from different countries structured into various subjects as arts, engineering, economics and so on. This index lacks important properties; the most demonstrative one is its characteristic to be lower but not upper bounded. Further, we will show that the AI is a log-normal distribution and that it is common in literature to transform the AI by the logarithm to a normal distribution. Last, we will present an alternative transformation special for longitudinal data, that transforms the AI to a normal distribution, too, without the negative properties of the logarithm like the loss of data if the logarithm is applied. This newly introduced index called Normalized AI (NAI) will be calculated by expansion the relation of the AI in dividend as in divisor. It will not converge to the logarithm of the AI, but to the logarithm of the AI if z-standardized by each entity-field combination.
Flashmob as a Form of Solidarity in Journalism
Authors:   Graduate School of Print and Media Technologies, Saint Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design, Ivanyan Ruzanna G.
Published: April 2022

The article is devoted to the values and practices of solidarity in Russian journalism related to the law on foreign agents in the second half of 2021. Its significance lies in the need to analyze the contemporary value spectrum of Russian journalism with its discreteness. The aim of the survey is to analyze new formats for expressing solidarity on an ambiguous point for the media community (the law on foreign agents), using the example of the flash mob #banned profession (August 2021). Through more than 50 Facebook posts with the hashtag #bannedprofession and user comments, the author explores professional and civic value narratives. The qualitative thematic analysis of the texts is used as a research method. The flash mob brought personal stories of professional development and compared different time and socio-political contexts of the profession. Solidarity showed itself in the form of concern for colleagues who had lost their jobs and their source of income. Attempts to monetize solidarity are noticeable features. The social geography of participation expanded, and former journalists also took part in the flash mob. They used it as an opportunity to mark their belonging to the journalistic community. At the same time, in a number of cases the hashtag was used for indirect purposes. The main outcome of the flash mob #banned profession is seen in the personification of the profession of journalism and the articulation of its importance in the modern context. Solidarization is traced not in the texts of the participants of the flash mob, but in the very fact of joining it. Ideas of solidarity are articulated through indignation and rejection of the situation. At the same time, the texts themselves are dominated by individual professional and personal narratives, their own emotions and feelings in the tradition of “new ethics”.The practical significance of the study can be traced back to the development of a theoretical and practical basis for the similar campaigns. Solidarity in journalism as a research topic touches on the intersectional areas of media, activism, relations with power, digital participation, and the axiology of journalism, and may appeal to researchers from various specialties.
Spatial Dichotomies and Labyrinth in the Novel the Sacred Book of the Werewolf by V. Pelevin
Authors:   Institute of International Law and Economics named after A. S. Griboyedov, Sherchalova Ekaterina V.
Published: April 2022

The article presents the study of postmodern artistic work’s space organization. The aim of the study is to reveal specifics of the space of a postmodern work as a category of the artistic world of a literary work. The paper considers the hypothesis about the assertion of a causal “character” – “space” relationship. The material for the analysis was the novel The Sacred Book of the Werewolf by V. Pelevin. The methods of structural analysis, as well as comparative and historical-cultural methods were used to study the work. During the study the spatial dichotomies were identified (“feminine” – “masculine”, “dark” – “light”, “top” – “bottom”), which are formed according to activity of a particular character, which determines the novelty of the study. The novel is divided into feminine and masculine spaces, each of which possesses, albeit with certain limitations, stable features: feminine space is characterized by semi-darkness, narrowness, downward orientation, while male space is characterized by the boundlessness or illusory nature of boundaries, light and brightness, the location is at the top. The feminine space is physically limited, but expands into reasoning, memories and metaphors. Open space appears most often where a male character dominates. In addition, the article provides examples proving that the concretization of the image of a location is associated with the psychological and mental state of a character. The work also explores the image of a labyrinth in the space of a work of art. The study will help both in the further study of the space realized in the V. Pelevin’s work, which will allow us to systematize and identify the pattern characteristic of his prose, and in analysis of the space of a postmodernist work.
Образ восприятия эвенков в художественной этнографии китайских писателей (на материале творчества Ужерту)
Authors:   Амурский государственный университет, Голун Дэн
Published: April 2022

The Evenki are a small ethnic group living in Russia and China, which has preserved its traditional culture and rituals. The “Evenk theme” has become a significant phenomenon in modern Chinese literature and has contributed to ethnographic studies of Evenk culture. The relevance of the study is due to the interest of modern literary criticism in various artistic projections of imagological methodology through the prism of ethnic cultures, as well as the attention of modern Chinese writers to the life of small nationalities. The aim of the study was the imagological analysis of the image of the self-perception of the Evenki in the artistic ethnography of the Evenk writer Uzhertu. The research is based on the methodological developments in the field of artistic ethnography, as well as imagological studies of cultural images and artistic images of perception in literature. The principle of attracting and using ethnographic material is based on the works by Russian ethnographers. During the research, the stories of Uzhertu were analyzed. The image of the Evenk in his works is given from the point of view of self-perception. At the same time, it is emphasized that despite the positive qualities, the Evenk nation is weak and small in number, dissolving in the Han culture under the influence of globalization, modernization, and developing economy. As a representative of an ancient ethnos, faced with the impact of modern civilization, with each new stage of creativity, Uzhertu became more and more aware of his responsibility to his people, trying to fix and preserve its unique culture in an artistic form. In the “Evenk” works by Uzhertu, the main typological techniques of artistic ethnography were captured: the creation of images of perception of a foreign culture (Han) and images of perception, the imprinting of traditional religious ideas and a mythological picture of the world, a description of household and trade customs and rituals. Uzhertu sadly records the processes of enveloping the Evenks, their dissolution in the Han culture and everyday life.
„Exklusion noch und nöcher, obwohl es sich doch um Inklusion handeln soll.“ Analyse von Praxismaterialien als Qualifizierungsmaßnahme in der Lehrer*innenbildung
Authors: Bohlmann Nina , Dexel Timo
Published: April 2022

Die Gestaltung eines inklusiven Mathematikunterrichts, der allen Schüler*innen Zugänge zur Mathematik eröffnet, wirft Fragen hinsichtlich einer fachbezogenen Aus- und Weiterbildung von Lehrpersonen auf. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird eine Qualifizierungsmaßnahme vorgestellt, die darauf zielt, angehende Lehrkräfte für die Anforderungen und Herausforderungen eines inklusiven Mathematikunterrichts zu sensibilisieren sowie diesbezügliche Kritik- und Analysefähigkeiten zu entwickeln. Es wird untersucht, welche Potenziale die Analyse von Praxismaterialien in Bezug auf ihre Eignung für inklusiven Mathematikunterricht bietet. Die Datengrundlage bilden offene Fragebögen, in denen Studierende einen auf Inklusion bezogenen Praxisbeitrag reflektieren. Die Auswertung der Fragebögen erfolgt anhand einer qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse nach Mayring (2010). Auf Basis einer theoretischen Konzeptionalisierung wird somit eine empirisch erprobte Möglichkeit der Qualifizierung in der ersten Phase der Lehramtsausbildung vor- und zur Diskussion gestellt.Abstract

Teaching mathematics inclusively, that is, offering every student access to mathematics, raises the issue of an adequate and specialized teacher education. This contribution presents a qualification measure aiming to make pre-service teachers aware of the needs and challenges of inclusive mathematics classroom activities. Moreover, critical faculties and reflectivity ought to be developed. We investigate the potentials of analysing teaching materials in terms of their suitability for teaching mathematics inclusively. Questionnaires with reflections of student teachers about the teaching material serve as data basis. These reflections are analysed by means of a qualitative content analysis according to Mayring (2010). Doing so, we present and discuss a possibility to qualify pre-service teachers based on a theoretical conceptualization and an empirical testing.
Zwischen De/Kategorisierung und De/Professionalisierung – Komplexe Spannungen professionellen Handelns in der schulischen Inklusion.
Authors: Blasse Nina , Budde Jürgen , Demmer Christine , Gasterstädt Julia , Heinrich Martin , Lübeck Anika , Rißler Georg , Rohrmann Albrecht , Strecker Alica , Urban Michael , Weinbach Hanna
Published: April 2022

Ausgangspunkt ist die Beobachtung, dass sich empirisch eine inklusive Schule oftmals als eine differenzierte und differenzierende Schule darstellt. Dies bezieht sich etwa auf die Ausdifferenzierung der ‚heterogenen Lehrgruppe‘. Im zeitgemäßen inklusiven Unterricht sind allgemein- und sonderpädagogische Lehrkräfte ebenso wie Schulbegleitungen anwesend. Auch Sozialpädagog*innen und Therapeut*innen gehören vermehrt zum Schulalltag.

Vorliegende Studien dokumentieren, dass die Gestaltung inklusiver Schulen bzw. von inklusivem Unterricht von nicht intendierten Effekten und Widerständigkeiten der Akteur*innen begleitet ist. Im Beitrag werden – basierend auf der ProFiS-Studie – zwei Herausforderungen von inklusiven Schulen in den Mittelpunkt gerückt. Zum einen wird auf das Spannungsfeld von Professionalisierung und Deprofessionalisierung eingegangen. Zum anderen stellt das Verhältnis von Kategorisierung und Dekategorisierung eine Herausforderung dar. Beide Relationen sind als Spannungsverhältnisse untereinander und zueinander zu denken, die sich nicht ‚einfach‘ in eine Richtung auflösen lassen, sondern die in ihrer Widersprüchlichkeit gerade konstitutiv für die Praxis ‚inklusiver Schulen‘ wirken. Zentrale Frage des Beitrags ist, wie dieses komplexe Spannungsverhältnis der wechselseitigen Bezogenheit de/kategorisierender und de/professionalisierender Prozesse in professionellen Aktivitäten hervorgebracht wird.Abstract

Starting point is the observation that empirically an inclusive school often presents itself as a differentiated and differentiating school. This refers for example to the differentiation of the 'heterogeneous teaching group'. In contemporary inclusive classes, general and special needs teachers as well as paraprofessionals are present. Moreover, social pedagogues and therapists are increasingly part of everyday school life.

Existing studies document implementation difficulties, unintended effects and resistance on the part of the agents generally accompany creating and shaping the inclusive school. Based on the ProFiS study, the article focuses on two challenges of inclusive schools. On the one hand, the interplay between professionalisation and deprofessionalisation is discussed. On the other hand, the relationship between categorisation and decategorisation poses a challenge upon inclusion and will be examined. Both relations are to be thought of as tense relations among themselves and to each other, which cannot be 'simply' dissolved in one direction, but which in their contradictoriness are precisely constitutive for the practice of 'inclusive schools'. Central to the article is the question of how this tense relation is produced in professional activities.
Kann das jeder? - Welche Rolle spielt die Qualifikation von Schulbegleiter/innen für die Tätigkeiten und die Zusammenarbeit mit Lehrer/innen? Eine explorative Studie
Authors: Czempiel Stefanie , Kracke Bärbel
Published: April 2022

Schulbegleitung ist ein zunehmend relevantes Tätigkeitsfeld bei der Realisierung inklusiver Bildungsangebote. Kritisch diskutiert wird die Einschlägigkeit der Qualifikation der eingesetzten Personen. Aktuell sind etwa 50% der als Schulbegleiter/innen Beschäftigten pädagogisch, therapeutisch oder medizinisch-pflegerisch qualifiziert. Bislang ist wenig darüber bekannt, welchen Tätigkeiten Schulbegleiter/innen genau nachgehen und wie die Zusammenarbeit mit Lehrkräften eingeschätzt wird. In der vorliegenden Untersuchung werden deshalb Tätigkeitsprofile und Selbsteinschätzungen zur Qualität der Zusammenarbeit mit Lehrkräften bei Fachkräften und Nicht-Fachkräften vergleichend in den Blick genommen. Es wurden in einer Fragebogenbefragung n = 61 Schulbegleiter/innen befragt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass wider Erwarten die Fachkräfte mit pädagogischer Qualifikation eher im Bereich der lebenspraktischen Unterstützung als im Bereich der Emotions- und Verhaltensregulation tätig sind. Die Zusammenarbeit mit Lehrkräften wird von Fachkräften und Nicht-Fachkräften gleichermaßen positiv bewertet. Es gibt Hinweise darauf, dass die Bewertung der Zusammenarbeit mit Lehrkräften von spezifischen Tätigkeitsprofilen abhängt.Abstract

School assistants are getting more and more important for realizing inclusive education in Germany. There is a critical discussion about the qualification of the people working as school assistants. Only about 50 % of the people working as school assistants are qualified in a pedagogical, therapeutic or medical care field. It is unclear which tasks they perform and how they assess the cooperation with teachers. In our study we focus on profiles of tasks and self-assessments of the cooperation with teachers which should differ between qualified and nonqualified people. We asked 61 school assistants to answer a questionnaire. The results show non expectedly that qualified people give more support in life practice than in control of emotion and behavior. The cooperation with teachers is reported similarly positive by qualified and non qualified people. There are indications that the evaluation of cooperation with teachers depends on special task profiles.
VIOLÊNCIA CONTRA A PESSOA IDOSA DURANTE A PANDEMIA DE COVID-19
Authors: Carolina Mendes Nayara , Martins da Silva Doane , Castro Santos Camargos Mirela
Published: April 2022

Objetivo: compreender a situação de vulnerabilidade do idoso às situações de violência durante a pandemia de Covid-19 na perspectiva de profissionais e gestores da saúde e da assistência social. Método: estudo de abordagem qualitativa, do tipo descritivo, em duas Unidades Básicas de Saúde e um Centro de Referência de Assistência Social, em Belo Horizonte. Fundamentação teórica: a violência contra a pessoa idosa é um problema de saúde pública, com grande impacto na qualidade de vida da vítima e a pandemia tem contribuído com as situações de violação de direitos. Resultados: as entrevistas revelaram que os casos de violência são identificados pelos profissionais nos contextos de trabalho, porém o isolamento social restringe a presença do idoso nesses cenários, sendo um dificultador para o reconhecimento do problema. Os participantes evidenciaram um aumento do número de denúncias durante a pandemia e a maior ocorrência no âmbito familiar. Conclusões: a violência contra os idosos representa um desafio para profissionais e gestores da saúde e da assistência social, sendo fundamental a adoção de ações intersetoriais para seu enfrentamento.
EDUCAÇÃO PERMANENTE NA FORMAÇÃO DE GESTORES: DESENVOLVIMENTO DE REFERÊNCIAS TÉCNICAS MUNICIPAIS
Authors: Ferreira Costa Campos Katia , De Lima Bezerra Ana Paula , Gonçalves de Souza Fernanda , De Almeida Vanessa
Published: April 2022

Objetivo: o objetivo desse estudo é relatar a experiência proporcionada durante a disciplina Tópicos em Saúde III - Gestão da Educação Permanente em Saúde, como optativa do curso de Gestão de Serviços de Saúde da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, contando com a participação de discentes e de profissionais dos serviços de saúde. Fundamentação teórica: A importância da Educação Permanente em Saúde (EPS) para a melhoria do cotidiano do trabalho é evidente, mas a EPS ainda é pouco articulada nas ações, sendo um desafio na área da saúde. Método: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo do tipo relato de experiência. Resultados: Constatou-se a satisfação e avaliações positivas por parte dos discentes e profissionais participantes que puderam compreender e consolidar conhecimentos sobre EPS no dia a dia da gestão e das práticas assistenciais. Conclusão: Espera-se que este trabalho estimule reflexões sobre a importância de se associar teoria e prática no âmbito da EPS, possibilitando o aprendizado baseado na realidade da gestão e a melhoria do trabalho em saúde.

DESCRITORES: Educação Permanente; Gestão em Saúde; Saúde.
Fading of an Archimedean Point
Authors: Tatari Marita
Published: April 2022

Instead of a new “turn” of forms, the current landscape of performing arts is dominated by an immediate demand for political relevance, as well as by a correlative feeling of powerlessness. This can, however, no longer be grasped in terms of an opposition between autonomous and politically engaged art, because the framework of this opposition can no longer apply. Drawing on a distinction between renegotiation of power and desire, and transferring it into the field of performing arts, allows me to address epistemologically the shift we are currently facing. The emergence of new forms, as well as the way they are received, testify to the fading of an Archimedean point, the fading of a point from which to cast an eye on the artistic process of the emergence of forms. Hannah Arendt’s The Human Condition becomes then strangely relevant. She advocates the unconditional that comes to the fore with the human condition, while criticizing harshly the utilitarian consequences of the discovery of an Archimedean point in western cultural history. I argue that reconsidering “stage” and “audience” as space of appearance, we can take a stand for that which punctuates the emergence of forms, without considering it from an Archimedean point.
Operational Choreography
Authors: Egert Gerko
Published: April 2022

The paper adresses dance in regard to logistical capitalism and its operational politics. Operational politics denotes the control of processes from their inside, regulated and modulated by their very own logic. Instead of subsuming processes to external regulators such as pregiven scripts, goals or acting and moving subjects, operational politics is based on the logic of process itself and its regulation via immanent techniques. In regard to movement, operational politics started to gain hold in the field of logistics in the 1960s. Over the last decades, these operational choreographies proliferated into all realms of society, creating a logistical regime that comprises modes of thinking as much as modes of existence and action. It governs the movements of economic production as much as the way we perceive, live and move. Dance – seen as a practice in which new modes of thinking, moving and acting as well as new forms of subjectivity are explored in a physical manner – became an integral part of this logistical regime: In dance, the logic of operations is exercised beyond the realm of business organization. The study of operational choreography in dance as it is proposed in the paper is therefore twofold: On the one hand, it offers an analysis of the modes of logistical power at work in performances. On the other hand, it reveals how performances investigate the logistical regime itself and its operational politics on a bodily level.
The impact of ownership structure on external audit quality: A comparative study between Egypt and Saudi Arabia
Authors: Hassan Mahmoud Al Sharawi Hossam
Published: April 2022

This study aims to compare the impact of the ownership structure as one of the essential internal mechanisms of governance on the proxies of external audit quality on a sample of 82 listed Egyptian companies and 77 listed Saudi companies from 2014 to 2021, employing the OLS regression analysis. The current study found mixed results according to the type of ownership and indicators of the external audit quality, both in Egyptian and Saudi companies. The results showed a significant effect of board ownership, management ownership, and family ownership on audit quality. However, the direction of this effect varied between positive or negative in Egyptian or Saudi companies, and the effect was sometimes insignificant. On the contrary, the results showed an insignificant effect of government ownership on audit quality in Egyptian and Saudi companies, or the effect was sometimes significant. The study results may help investors and stakeholders understand the ownership structure’s role as one of the internal governance mechanisms on audit quality. Studies show the effectiveness of governance mechanisms, whether internal or external, according to the institutional environment from one country to another. It also contributes to the use of various indicators to measure the quality of auditing and the quality of financial reports, such as returning the financial statements as an indicator of financial reports and an indicator of audit quality at the same time.
Low-dose intrauterine contraception is an innovative approach to the prevention of unwanted pregnancy
Authors: Chernukha G. E. , Pronina V. A.
Published: April 2022

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is recognized as a highly effective and convenient method for preventing unwanted pregnancy. However, in real clinical practice, the level of implementation of LARC remains relatively low, which, presumably, may be related to misconceptions about their contraceptive efficacy and side effects among health professionals and patients. One method of long-acting reversible contraception is the intrauterine device. Hormone-containing intrauterine systems are recognized as one of the most affordable contraceptive methods, characterized by a very low failure rate (less than 1%), which does not depend on the patient’s compliance. A review of the literature focuses on the efficacy and safety of a low-dose levonorgestrelcontaining intrauterine system containing 19.5 mg of levonorgestrel (LNG-IUD 12). We present data on the advantages of this intrauterine system in comparison with its counterparts. Analysis of the literature has shown that adherence to low-dose contraception is observed among women of reproductive age. The smaller diameter of the guide tube is associated with a more successful and less painful insertion of the device into the uterine cavity. This may be an obvious advantage for young, nulliparous women. In addition, the LNG-IUD has a predominantly local progestogenic effect on the endometrium, so there is a relatively low development of systemic effects. Despite its lower levonorgestrel content, the LNG IUD 12 (Kyleena LNG 19.5 mg, levonorge strel-releasing intrauterine system with an average LNG release of 12 µg/24 h in vivo over the first year of use) has a high level of contraceptive efficacy. Thus, LNG-IUD 12 is associated with a favorable efficacy and safety profile regardless of a woman’s age or parity, which has been confirmed by the results of clinical trials.
Blind frequency estimation of pseudo-code phase and linear frequency modulation composited fuze by Duffing oscillator
Authors: Guan Enming , Yan Xiaopeng , Lv Minghui , Wan Yi , Chen Yanjun
Published: April 2022

In order to blind estimate pseudo-code (PN) code phase modulation and linear frequency modulation composited fuzecarrier frequency. By improving the traditional Duffing oscillator detection model of strong reference signal, an approximate carrier frequency blind estimation method by small-scale periodic Duffing oscillator is proposed in this paper. In this method, the internal dynamic frequency is used to approximate the changes of the output time domain and phase diagram of the chaotic system during the frequency to be measured. Then calculate the different frequency to blind estimate the carrier frequency of the signal. This method widens the range of frequency detection and can realize blind frequency estimation with less prior knowledge. The parameter estimation effect of the approximate carrier frequency estimation method based on small cycle Duffing oscillator under different signal to noise ration (SNR) is simulated and analyzed in this paper. The results show that this method has better parameter estimation performance than the traditional composited fuze frequency estimation method, especially in the environment of low SNR.
Fault diagnosis of ship power station based on LSTM neural network algorithm
Authors: Wang Shuheng , Zhao Yu , Chen Ning
Published: April 2022

Ship power station is an important part of the ship, and the fault types of ship power station are complex. In this paper, Simulink software platform is used to simulate and model various short-circuit faults of ship power station. The current and voltage parameters of each phase are selected as the source of the data set, and the data are processed and the prediction image is plotted in MATLAB. LSTM neural network algorithm solves the problem of long-term dependence compared with other algorithms, and has a high degree of interpretation of the predicted data. The results show that the fault diagnosis model based on LSTM neural network algorithm can well diagnose the fault mode of ship power station.
Single-sensor pressure-gradient piezoelectric cylindrical tube vector hydrophone
Authors: Sun Yang , Yu Yanting , Zhang Chao , Ma Jianbo , Zheng Yi
Published: April 2022

A single-sensor differential pressure vector hydrophone based on a radially polarized piezoelectric circular tube structure is proposed, which can realize the azimuth angle of the incident acoustic wave by using the scalar information of the underwater sound field through a single sensor without any priori conditions. It has the characteristics of simple structure and low cost. The proposed hydrophone is improved based on the piezoelectric circular tube structure. And its piezoelectric ceramics are divided into eight parts. Through the different response voltages of each part, the underwater sound field scalar information received by a single sensor is used, combined with signal processing algorithms, the azimuth angle of the incident sound wave is estimated. The finite element method is used to complete the simulation of the hydrophone, and the simulation results are analyzed and fitted. Through the mockup test, comparing the results, and combining with the fitting formula, it is verified that the hydrophone can estimate the azimuth angle of the incident sound wave without any priori conditions.
Behavior of frequencies of orthotropic rectangular plate with circular variations in thickness and density
Authors: Lather Neeraj , Sharma Amit
Published: April 2022

In this article, authors dealt with general solution of differential equation of orthotropic rectangular plate with clamped boundary conditions under bi-parabolic temperature variations. Rayleigh Ritz technique is adopted to solve the resultant equation and evaluate the frequencies for first four modes of vibration. The effect of circular thickness and density on frequencies of orthotropic plate are analyzed which is not done yet. The objective of the study is to optimize the frequency modes by choosing the appropriate variation in plate parameters. Th findings of the study complete the objective of the article. All the results are provided in tabular form.
Economic feasibility analysis of variable-speed pumps by simulating 15 multiple water distribution systems
Authors: Truettner Conrad B. , Barkdoll Brian D.
Published: April 2022

The UN Sustainability Goals address measures to reduce environmental pollution. Water distribution systems (WDSs) use electric energy, which pollutes the atmosphere through, at least partly, the burning of coal. This study simulates, through modeling, variable-speed pumps (VSPs) on 15 different real WDSs on the network solver EPANET and analyzes the payback period. An algorithm is introduced here to select the optimal pump speed pattern to save the most energy while satisfying the constrain of sufficient pressure at all times and all locations. It was found that five of the 15 systems operated unsuccessfully using a VSP, due to the VSP operating at lower speeds causing a lower pressure than normal, thereby causing the pressure to become negative. Additionally, a new chart that compares the payback period, project life, and energy costs between the base case and the VSP case was developed and different regions on the chart reflect different decision criteria.
GSK-3β and its Inhibitors in Alzheimer's Disease: A Recent Update
Authors: Sharma Swapnil , Chauhan Neha , Paliwal Swati , Jain Smita , Verma Kanika , Paliwal Sarvesh
Published: April 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an emerging major health and socioeconomic burden worldwide.
It is characterized by neuronal loss, memory loss and cognitive impairment in the aging population.
Despite several scientific advancements over the past five decades, the underlying molecular
mechanism of the disease progression is yet unknown. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) has
huge implications on the brain function, causing molecular pathologies, neuronal damage and impairment
of brain performance in AD. It is one of the key players in signaling pathways for normal
brain functioning and a critical molecular link between amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau neurofibrillary tangles
(NFTs). GSK-3β activation is driven by phosphorylation of tau(τ) protein which results in disruption
of neuronal synaptic activities and the formation of neuronal plaques. Although the accumulation
of Aβ plaques and intracellular tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau protein has been well established
as neuropathological hallmarks of the disease, the molecular mechanism has not been unraveled. This
review focuses on the role of GSK-3β in the molecular mechanisms participating in the manifestation
and progression of AD. The review also suggests that GSK-3β inhibitors can be used as potential therapeutic
targets for amelioration of AD.
The Dose and Duration-dependent Association between Melatonin Treatment
and Overall Cognition in Alzheimer’s Dementia: A Network Meta-
Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials
Authors: Shiue Yow-Ling , Tseng Ping-Tao , Zeng Bing-Yan , Chen Yen-Wen , Yang Chun-Pai , Su Kuan-Pin , Chen Tien-Yu , Wu Yi-Cheng , Tu Yu-Kang , Lin Pao-Yen , Carvalho Andre F. , Stubbs Brendon , Matsuoka Yutaka J. , Li Dian-Jeng , Liang Chih-Sung , Hsu Chih-Wei , Sun Cheuk-Kwan , Cheng Yu-Shian , Yeh Pin-Yang
Published: April 2022

Background:

While Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) has a prevalence as high as 3-32% and is associated
with cognitive dysfunction and the risk of institutionalization, no efficacious and acceptable treatments can modify
the course of cognitive decline in AD. Potential benefits of exogenous melatonin for cognition have been divergent
across trials.

Objective:

The current network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted under the frequentist model to evaluate the
potential beneficial effects of exogenous melatonin supplementation on overall cognitive function in participants
with AD in comparison to other FDA-approved medications (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, memantine,
and Namzaric).

Methods:

The primary outcome was the changes in the cognitive function [measured by mini-mental state examination
(MMSE)] after treatment in patients with Alzheimer’s dementia. The secondary outcomes were changes
in the quality of life, behavioral disturbance, and acceptability (i.e., drop-out due to any reason and rate of any
adverse event reported).

Results:

The current NMA of 50 randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) revealed the medium-term lowdose
melatonin to be associated with the highest post-treatment MMSE (mean difference = 1.48 in MMSE score,
95% confidence intervals [95% CIs] = 0.51 to 2.46) and quality of life (standardized mean difference = -0.64,
95% CIs = -1.13 to -0.15) among all of the investigated medications in the participants with AD. Finally, all of
the investigated exogenous melatonin supplements were associated with similar acceptability as was the placebo.
Conclusion: The current NMA provides evidence for the potential benefits of exogenous melatonin supplementation,
especially medium-term low-dose melatonin, in participants with AD.

Conclusions:

The current NMA provides evidence for the potential benefits of exogenous melatonin supplementation,
especially medium-term low-dose melatonin, in participants with AD.

Trial Registration:

The current study complies with the Institutional Review Board of the Tri-Service General
Hospital (TSGHIRB: B-109-29) and had been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020193088).
Vitamin D Focused Approach to Nutritional Therapy for the Management
of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Review
Authors: Pawar Deepika , Kumari Anita , Aluko Rotimi E. , Kumar Ashwani
Published: April 2022

Background:

In several studies, Vitamin D supplementation was found useful against
the highly infectious SARS-CoV-2 to reduce the mortality rate and severity of its infection. Viral
replication was also found to be affected negatively by vitamin D administration.

Objective:

The literature was reviewed with an aim to evaluate the efficacy of the therapeutic
approach of nutrition involving intervention of Vitamin D towards decreasing the severity of
prevailing pandemic of SARS-CoV-2.

Methods:

A background research of literature was performed using the keywords “SARS-CoV-
2”, “Covid-19”, “nutritional therapy”, “Vitamin D”, “immunity”, “AEC2 receptors” and “RAS”
in the Pubmed and Google Scholar.

Results:

This literature was review suggested that if combined with medical sciences, this nutritional
therapy approach can end up as an influential solution to reduce the severity of SARSCoV-
2 infection, which is a prevailing pandemic. A combination of assessment, supplementation
of this required micro-nutrient (Vitamin D), and monitoring can be used to aid the immune system
of Covid-19 patients.

Conclusion:

Nutritional therapy with Vitamin D as a major factor can be used to increase the
immunity of an individual to fight against the highly infectious SARS-CoV-2. However, the actual
mechanism of how Vitamin D supplementation functions to improve the health of an individual
is yet unclear.
Recent Applications of Natural Polymers in the Formulation of Nanogel
Authors: Upadhyay Prashant , Agarwal Shivani , Upadhyay Sukirti
Published: April 2022

Nanotechnology is a progressing and novel technique in healthcare and smart drug delivery.
There are many benefits and future aspects of nanogel-containing nanoparticles in the advanced diagnosis,
mitigation, and treatment of many important disorders with improved outcomes because of their
particle size, high stability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, large surface area, and high drug charging
capacity. Their small particle size provides the feature basis for drug charging capacity and the
swelling property to form a 3D structure with advantages, limitations, and classification of nanogels.
The motive of the review article is to summarize the natural polymers such as Okra gum, chitosan,
Acacia gum, Pullulan, PLA, and PLGA that are employed to prepare nanogels comprising nanoparticles
by the chemical cross-linking method. There are various applications of these nanogels as nanoparticles
in the many fields of healthcare, including local anesthetics, neurodegenerative, vaccine delivery,
transdermal delivery, ophthalmology, and diabetes. In this present review article, the author has
focused on the current trends of nanogel in nanomedicine, oilfield applications, food packing, cancer
research, cosmeceutical, and biomedical applications.
Tanshinone IIA Alleviates the Biological Characteristics of Colorectal Cancer via
Activating the ROS/JNK Signaling Pathway
Authors: Huo Jiege , Qian Jun , Cao Yi , Zhang Junfeng , Li Lingchang , Wu Juan , Yu Jialin
Published: April 2022

Background:

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) exerts a significant inhibitory effect on various tumor cells since it
induces cell apoptosis and affects the proliferation, differentiation, metastasis, and invasion of tumor cells. However,
the mechanism underlying the antitumor activity of Tan IIA has not been totally elucidated.

Objective:

This study aimed to uncover the role of Tan IIA in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its potential mechanism of
action.

Method:

Cell proliferation was assessed using CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Western blot analysis was carried
out to detect the expression of related proteins. Cell apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometry. Furthermore, tumor
size and tumor weight of CRC xenograft mice were recorded before and after Tan IIA treatment. The production of
reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by a ROS kit.

Result:

The results revealed that Tan IIA induced autophagy and apoptosis via activating the ROS/JNK signaling
pathway in CRC cells, thus inhibiting the progression of CRC in vivo.

Conclusion:

The aforementioned findings indicated that Tan IIA exerted an antiproliferative effect on CRC by inducing
cell autophagy and apoptosis via activating the ROS/JNK signaling pathway. Therefore, Tan IIA may be considered
a potential therapeutic agent for treating CRC.
Epigenetic-related Effects of COVID-19 on Human Cells
Authors: Faramarzi Arezoo , Safaralizadeh Reza , Dastmalchi Narges , Teimourian Shahram
Published: April 2022

Epigenetics is related to the various pathways that show long‐term impacts on the gene expression patterns without alterations in nucleotide sequences. Over the last decade, epigenetics advanced significantly in the science of biology, oncology, innate immunity as well as pathogens and infectious diseases. In the present paper, we aimed to review the relationships between COVID-19 and epigenetic alterations of the infected cells. Coronavirus is one of the known infectious diseases that causes respiratory infection, such as pneumonia and coughing, while in animals, it causes diarrhea and upper respiratory disorders. This virus could be transmitted human to human or human to an animal through droplets. It translocates via membrane ACE-2 exopeptidase into the host cells. In conclusion, hypomethylation of angiotensin II converting enzyme (ACE II) possibly upregulates its expression, enhancing the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Bedaquiline in Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: A Mini-Review
Authors: Singh Baljinder
Published: April 2022

Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes a contagious pulmonary disease with a high mortality rate in developing countries. However, the recommendation of DOTS (approved by WHO) was effective in treating tuberculosis, but nowadays resistance from the first line (MDR-TB) and the second line (XDR-TB) drugs is highly common. Whereas, the resistance is a result of factors like poor patient constancy due to the long duration of therapy and co-infection with HIV. The approval of bedaquiline under an accelerated program for the treatment of MDR-TB had revealed its effectiveness in clinical trials as a therapeutic novel molecule. BDQ selectively inhibits the ATP synthase of bacterium and reduces ATP production. Additionally, the poor pharmacokinetic properties had raised provocations in the MDR therapy, but the use of targeted drug delivery can solve the hurdles. While the preclinical and clinical studies included in this review are strongly suggesting the usefulness of BDQ in MDR-TB and XDR-TB, the repurposing of different drug classes in resistant TB is opening new opportunities to manage the disease conditions. In this review, we have summarized the examples of pipeline drugs and repurposed molecules with preclinical formulation developments.
Recent Patents on Nasal Vaccines Containing Nanoadjuvants
Authors: Candela Francesco , Quarta Eride , Buttini Francesca , Ancona Adolfo , Bettini Ruggero , Sonvico Fabio
Published: April 2022

Vaccines are one of the greatest medical achievements of modern medicine. The nasal mucosa
represents an effective route of vaccination for both mucosal immunity and peripheral, being at
the same time an inductive and effector site of immunity. In this paper, the innovative and patented
compositions and manufacturing procedures of nanomaterials have been studied using the peerreviewed
research literature. Nanomaterials have several properties that make them unique as adjuvant
for vaccines. Nanoadjuvants through the influence of antigen availability over time affect the immune
response. Namely, the amount of antigen reaching the immune system or its release over prolonged
periods of time can be effectively increased by nanoadjuvants. Mucosal vaccines are an interesting alternative
for immunization of diseases in which pathogens access the body through these epithelia. Nanometric
adjuvants are not only a viable approach to improve the efficacy of nasal vaccines but in most of the cases
they represent the core of the intellectual property related to the innovative vaccine.
Quality Characteristics of Yogurt Added with Karamunting (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) Aqueous Extract As Natural Colorant and Source of Antioxidant.
Authors: Manurung Hotman , Simanungkalit Ferlando Jubelito , Silitonga Anggriani
Published: April 2022

The aims of this research are to determine the effect of the concentration addition level of karamunting (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) fruit extract on the quality of yogurt during 9 d storage period to increase the functionality of yogurt as a probiotic food, a source of antioxidants and the use of karamunting as a natural colorant for food. This research used a completely randomized design consisting of two factors, that is the concentration of karamunting fruit extract which consisted of 4 addition levels (0%, 12%, 15% and 18% w/w) and the storage period of yogurt which also consisted of 4 levels (0 d, 3 ds, 6 d and 9 ds). The parameters that have been observed in this research were pH, total acid, water content, fat content, protein content, color analysis, antioxidant activity and organoleptic tests (aroma, taste, viscosity and color) of the yogurt. The results showed that karamunting fruit extract had a significant effect on pH, total acid, color L*, a* and b*, and organoleptic (aroma, viscosity and color) of the yogurt, but had no significant effect on water content, fat content, protein content and flavor of the yogurt. Storage period had a significant effect on pH, total acid, protein content, color L*, a* and b*, and organoleptic (aroma, taste, viscosity and color) of the yogurt, but had no significant effect on water content and fat content of the yogurt. The addition of 18% (w/w) karamunting fruit extract and 9 d of storage period resulted in yogurt with the characteristics as follows pH 4.2; total acid 1.57%; water content 87.05%; fat content 3.66%; protein content 2.7%; color L* 72,24; a* 8.28; and b* 9.38 and organoleptic (aroma, taste, thickness and color) which were quite favorable, as well as a strong antioxidant activity value of 85.35 ppm IC50.
Toward a literary genre of ‘neither peace nor war’
Authors: Zahavi Hadas
Published: April 2022

While numerous studies have attempted to define forms of communication for the experience of eye witnessing the atrocities of war, little has been written on the inverse experience: how can one bear witness to not seeing warfare? I propose that this question has a profound ethical and political importance in the present, as the elimination of war’s demolition from the European horizon is essential to understanding the political situation that contemporary authors are witnessing. Retracing recent adaptations of the constructions of peace and war in the field of international studies may serve as a point of departure for determining a literary genre of ‘neither peace nor war’ related to contemporary French life-writings of writers such as Jean Rouaud and Jean-Yves Jouannais. Without being physically present for the events of extreme violence their writing describes in a first-person narrative, this genre creates a space for a reappearance of the war through the reconstructed European horizon of the present and opens a window toward a mode of resistance to the adverse political situation of ‘neither peace nor war’.
How can we combat the obesity epidemic?
Authors: Eliby Djamila
Published: April 2022

Rising obesity rates globally present a significant health, economic, and societal burden. Examining the adverse effects of the obesogenic environment on dietary decision-making, and the personal motivators for behaviour change, may present as unique points of intervention for obesity management. The influence of the social and physical environment on eating behaviours also requires consideration in the context of both physical and mental health. An understanding of the extrinsic and intrinsic psychological factors motivating successful weight management is critical for practical translation into the healthcare context.