bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequency of Biblcal and Koranic Expressions Related to the Love Concept in the Modern English Language Internet
Authors: Poletaeva T.
Published: December 2021

The subject of the research is a comparative analysis of the frequency of biblical and Quranic expressions related to the LOVE concept in the modern English-language Internet. The aim of the investigation firstly is to find out to what extent the religious foundations of culture influence on such a value dominant as the concept of LOVE, secondly, to find out the influence of secularization of the English-speaking society and spreading of Islam in the Western world on the conceptual dimension of the LOVE concept. As a research method it is used a search of biblical and Quranic expressions associated with the LOVE concept in the modern English-language Internet in the form of quotations from the Holy Scriptures and the Quran. An application area of the results of the investigation is situated at the turn of applied linguistics in the sphere of culture and comparative religious studies. The comparison of the indicated frequency and meanings of the LOVE concept in biblical and Quranic expressions allows to conclude that this concept in the linguistic picture of the world of our English speaking contemporaries remains Christian in its essence. Islam does not influence at all on the understanding of this life-setting value concept in the English-language picture of the world.
Politics of Memory in Cities Divided by State Borders: Theoretical and Methodological Framework of Research
Authors: Zenderowski Radosław
Published: December 2021

In the article the author attempts to outline theoretical and methodological framework used in analyzing the phenomenon of specific history politics in cities divided by state borders – places where sometimes radically different history narrations meet or even clash. The article is composed of three parts. The first one specifies the concept of history politics in nationwide dimension (“history politics”). The second part analyzes history politics in local dimension (“local politics of memory”). With reference to these two concepts – levels of history politics and politics of memory – the author indicates: goals, subjects, methods and tools of history politics/politics of memory. The final section of the paper aims at capturing the specificity of history politics in cities divided by state borders and indicating models of relations between different kinds of politics of memory in cities divided by state borders.
The Image of Poland in Bulgarian Mass Media in 1990–1998 in the Light of Documents from the Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland
Authors: Czernicka Marzena
Published: December 2021

In this article, the image of Poland in the Bulgarian mass media was analyzed. This image was presented on the basis of reports that were made by employees of the Polish Embassy in Sofia and sent to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Polish Embassy in Sofia had the biggest impact in promotion of the Polish themes in the Bulgarian mass media. Polish issues have been present in the Bulgarian mass media from the beginning of political transformation, although the media presented information from Poland with varying frequency. The popularity of Polish issues in the Bulgarian media grew significantly when important political and economic events took place in Poland, or when there were meetings on the highest level between representatives of both states. During this period, the mass media created a positive image of Poland, mainly regarding economic issues. Poland was recognised as the leader in the process of political and economic transformations among Central and Eastern Europe countries.
The meanings of scientific progress in the history of International Relations – selected cases
Authors: Filary Mateusz
Published: December 2021

This article aims at reconstructing and interpreting the meanings of scientific progress present in selected important works within the discipline of International Relations (IR). This research objective stems from the gap in the literature concerning scientific progress in IR, as it is mostly concerned with the evaluation of the progressiveness of particular approaches, paradigms within the discipline. The reconstruction of meanings given by particular IR scholars to scientific progress is conducted only as far as its instrumental for the critique of their approaches and making room for the approaches of the critics. My objective is different – using a method inspired by the history of ideas and the research technique of qualitative content analysis, I will attempt to answer the following research questions: Q1 – How is the category of scientific progress of IR understood by particular scholars? Q2 – What are the contexts of its usage? Q3 – How can we interpret the rationale behind the employment of particular meanings in particular contexts? Q4 – How, on the basis of all cases, can we depict the flow of ideas of scientific progress through the history of IR? The cases selected span the development of IR from World War II to the early 2000s: Edward Carr’s The Twenty Years’ Crisis; Morton Kaplan’s texts from the early phase of the second great debate; John Vasquez’s The Power of Power Politics; and Miriam and Colin Elman’s Progress in International Relations Theory. On the basis of these cases I will argue that the notion of scientific progress in IR is an essentially contested concept within the discipline. Despite certain similarities in the meaning of the term among the cases – a cumulative notion of scientific progress – all of them are used in a way that is intended to legitimize the approach of a particular author as ‘properly scientific’. Another conclusion drawn is that although differing in kind, all of the cases consider important historical events that do not shape the meanings of progress themselves, but instead create a window of opportunity for particular meanings, as their context.
Cywilna kontrola nad służbami specjalnymi w Polsce z perspektywy trzech dekad funkcjonowania
Authors: Kolaszyński Mateusz
Published: December 2021

Civilian Control Over Secret Services in Poland from the Perspective of Three Decades of Their Operation
The article aims to analyze the current status of civilian control over intelligence services. The years 1990-1991 marked the beginning of a comprehensive transformation of this area of state activity. The article analyses the following issues: how hev the critical problems of civilian control over intelligence services been resolved across the three decades of their operation and to what extent the political system has been transformed in this area? The article consists of four main parts. The first discusses the concept of “special services” which signify specific institutional solutions in Poland. The following parts are organized according to the basic types of civilian control, i.e., executive control, parliamentary oversight, and independent oversight. The considerations focus on the institutional dimension of security. The article is analytical. It is prepared based on the available sources and literature.
Ukraińskie instytucje oświatowe w Białym Borze – studium przypadku
Authors: Hawrot Agnieszka
Published: December 2021

Ukrainian Education Institutions in Biały Bór – Case Study
The article discusses the policy of the Polish government towards minority schools using the example of Ukrainian primary school and secondary school of general education in Biały Bor with special focus on the school year 2020/2021. Schools, including all the minority schools in Poland, were put in a difficult situation because, according to the recent decisions, mother tongue education for the children of emigrants from Ukraine would not be financed by the Polish State. However, under the Polish Constitution, Poland shall ensure access to education for foreigners on equal terms with Polish nationals. Final decisions have not been made yet, but the issue of the incorrectly calculated subsidy repayment does not put the Polish State in a favourable light.
Competitive Poaching in Search Advertising: Two Randomized Field Experiments
Authors: Bhattacharya Siddharth , Gong Jing , Wattal Sunil
Published: December 2021

Keyword searches with brand names enable firms to generate traffic from search advertising by bidding not only on their own keywords but also on competitors’ keywords. The strategy of bidding on competitors’ keywords, known as competitive poaching, presents unique opportunities for practitioners. This study examines factors that influence the effectiveness of competitive poaching. We collected data from two randomized field experiments, one with a business school in the Northeastern United States and the other one with a leading automobile dealership company, where these firms bid on keywords of competing brands and randomly display different types of ad copies in the sponsored search listings. We find that, when poaching on keywords of high-quality brands, ad copies that feature vertical differentiation through quality signals are more effective than the control ad copies that do not convey any differentiation or prescriptive messages. We also find that when poaching from low-quality brands, ad copies featuring horizontal differentiation through nonquality attributes perform better than the control ad copies. Finally, the presence of the poached brand’s own ad has a positive association with the ad effectiveness of the poaching brand when that poached brand is high quality and a negative association when the poached brand is low quality.
The effects of breathing exercises on respiratory functions, functional capacity and quality of life in vehicle spray painters
Authors: Yilmaz Burak , Maden Cagtay , Turhan Begümhan
Published: December 2021

Background/aims

Workers engaged in vehicle spray painting are at a risk of developing respiratory problems because of the solvents in the spray paints. Changes in respiratory functions and functional capacities caused by spray painting can be improved with respiratory exercises. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of respiratory exercises on the respiratory functions, functional capacity and quality of life in vehicle spray painters.

Methods

A total of 70 volunteers with similar characteristics participated in the study. The groups were divided into two groups randomly (35 study group, 35 control group). Respiratory functions (value of forced expiratory volume percentage in 1 second [FEV1]), forced vital capacity percentage [FVC], FEV1/FVC percentage, peak expiratory flow percentage [PEF (%)] and maximum voluntary ventilation percentage [MVV (%)]), functional capacity (6-Minute Walk Test) and quality of life (Short Form Health Survey [SF-36]) were evaluated. The study group undertook supervised breathing exercises 3 days a week for 6 weeks. The same exercises were given to the control group as a home programme. Home programmes were followed up by telephone calls. Evaluations were performed again after 6 weeks.

Results

In the study group, FEV1 (%) increased more than in the control group (P<0.05). The increase in PEF (%) was similar in both groups (P>0.05). In the study group, FEV1/FVC (%) and MVV (%) were significantly different before and after the intervention (P<0.05), but there was no difference in the control group (P>0.05). There was a greater increase in the study group than in the control group (P<0.05). 6-Minute Walk Test distance (m) before and after the intervention in both groups were similar (P>0.05). Before and after the intervention, a significant difference was found in the vitality and the social function domains of the SF-36 in the study group. In the comparisons of groups, a significant difference was found in the study group in the role-emotional, social function and bodily pain domains of the SF-36 after the intervention (P<0.05).

Conclusions

Breathing exercises can be recommended for vehicle spray painters to avoid an increase in respiratory resistance and to improve their quality of life.
Simulation of Uniaxial Compression for Flexible Fibers of Wheat Straw Using the Discrete Element Method
Authors: Schramm Matthew W , Tekeste Mehari Z. , Steward Brian L
Published: December 2021

Highlights

Simulation of uniaxial compression was performed with flexible fibers modeled in DEM.

Bond-specific DEM parameters were found to be sensitive in uniaxial compression.

A calibration technique that is not plunger-dependent is shown and validated.

Abstract. To accurately simulate a discrete element method (DEM) model, the material properties must be calibrated to reproduce bulk material behavior. In this study, a method was developed to calibrate DEM parameters for bulk fibrous materials using uniaxial compression. Wheat straw was cut to 100.2 mm lengths. A 227 mm diameter cylindrical container was loosely filled with the cut straw. The material was pre-compressed to 1 kPa. A plunger (50, 150, or 225 mm diameter) was then lowered onto the compressed straw at a rate of 15 mm s-1. This experimental procedure was simulated using a DEM model for different material properties to generate a simulated design of experiment (DOE). The simulated plunger had a travel rate of 40 mm s-1. The contact Young’s modulus, bond Young’s modulus, and particle-to-particle friction DEM parameters were found to be statistically significant in the prediction of normal forces on the plunger in the uniaxial compression test. The DEM calibration procedure was used to approximate the mean laboratory results of wheat straw compression with root mean square (RMS) percent errors of 3.77%, 3.02%, and 13.90% for the 50, 150, and 225 mm plungers, respectively. Keywords: Calibration, DEM, DOE, Flexible DEM particle, Uniaxial compression, Wheat straw.
Simultaneous multiple laser beam intensity profile correction and its application to a vitiated bluff body combustor field
Authors: Kumar Raghul Manosh , Adhikari Subodh , Bibik Oleksandr , Emerson Benjamin L. , Fugger Christopher A. , Lieuwen Timothy C.
Published: December 2021

Simultaneous high-speed stereo-particle image velocimetry, OH
planar-laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF), and

C
H

2

O

PLIF measurements in a vitiated bluff
body combustor are considered. An ex
situ, simultaneous, time-resolved laser sheet intensity
profile correction procedure is introduced. This procedure is easily
implemented experimentally and is capable of correcting multiple
sheets at the same time. As a proof of concept, the procedure is
applied to perform correction of the

C
H

2

O

PLIF images in vitiated and
unvitiated conditions. The challenges associated with

C
H

2

O

PLIF under these combustor operating
conditions are also discussed.
Tri-wavelength simultaneous ESPI for 3D micro-deformation field measurement
Authors: Jiang Hanyang , Yang Fujun , Dai Xiangjun , He Xiaoyuan , Peng Guangjian
Published: December 2021

Electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI), a well-established technique for micro-deformation measurement, can be used to determine both in-plane and out-of-plane displacement components. Although many works in ESPI have been reported for three-dimensional (3D) displacement measurement, few works have focused on the simultaneous measurement of 3D deformation fields. Here we present an ESPI system that consists of three sub-interferometers for simultaneous measurement of all three displacement components and in-plane strain fields. A 3CCD color camera, a specially designed shifting stage, and three lasers with optimal wavelengths are used in this system. The lasers and 3CCD camera provide independent interferograms with different color signals, while the shifting stage allows the sub-interferometers to achieve simultaneous phase shifting. The results of color separation and experimental measurement demonstrate the utility of the system.
High-frequency fiber Bragg gating accelerometer and strain sensor-based blast test on a concrete slab
Authors: Jiang Ke , Liang Lei , Dai Shu , Wang Hui , Song Zhiyuan , Li Chen
Published: December 2021

The blast test is the most direct method of measuring explosive performance and structural safety. Because of long-distance wires and electromagnetic interference, some scattering exists in the blast test using electrical sensors. For this paper, a double-hinge high-frequency fiber Bragg gating (FBG) accelerometer was designed and manufactured to measure the acceleration on a blast-loaded concrete slab. The resonance frequency and sensitiveness of the sensor were determined as 3400 Hz and 6.26 pm/g, respectively. Blasting was performed seven times, with each blast generating the energy equivalent of 50 kg of TNT. The stress waves were obtained from the blast source for distances at 4 m, 6 m, and 8 m. The peak accelerations in test 6 were obtained as 396.21 g, 123.57 g, and 38.88 g, respectively, whereas the propagation velocity of the stress wave was around 2500 m/s. Furthermore, the study was complemented by numerical simulations. The test results were compared with the empirical formula, which validated the reliability and applicability of fiber optical sensors in blast testing. The proposed fiber optical sensors have shown promising results, further boosting their practical applications in blast testing and monitoring structural health following a blast shock.
DNA origami enabled assembly of nanophotonic structures and their applications [Invited]
Authors: Zhao Zhi , Han Yutao , Liu Yan
Published: December 2021

Nanophotonics is an emerging hot area that finds applications in optics, sensing and energy harvesting. Conventional fabrication methods are generally limited by their low spatial resolution and patterning capability, which cannot meet the demands of developing advanced nanophotonic structures. DNA origami has enabled a number of novel bottom-up strategies to assemble nanophotonic systems with nanometer accuracy and high geometric freedom. In this review, we use several representative examples to demonstrate the great patterning capability of DNA origami and discuss about the promising applications of those systems. A brief perspective is provided at the end on potential future directions of DNA origami enabled self-assembly.
Modeling the onset of symptoms of COVID-19: Effects of SARS-CoV-2 variant
Authors: Larsen Joseph R. , Martin Margaret R. , Martin John D. , Hicks James B. , Kuhn Peter
Published: December 2021

Identifying order of symptom onset of infectious diseases might aid in differentiating symptomatic infections earlier in a population thereby enabling non-pharmaceutical interventions and reducing disease spread. Previously, we developed a mathematical model predicting the order of symptoms based on data from the initial outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in China using symptom occurrence at diagnosis and found that the order of COVID-19 symptoms differed from that of other infectious diseases including influenza. Whether this order of COVID-19 symptoms holds in the USA under changing conditions is unclear. Here, we use modeling to predict the order of symptoms using data from both the initial outbreaks in China and in the USA. Whereas patients in China were more likely to have fever before cough and then nausea/vomiting before diarrhea, patients in the USA were more likely to have cough before fever and then diarrhea before nausea/vomiting. Given that the D614G SARS-CoV-2 variant that rapidly spread from Europe to predominate in the USA during the first wave of the outbreak was not present in the initial China outbreak, we hypothesized that this mutation might affect symptom order. Supporting this notion, we found that as SARS-CoV-2 in Japan shifted from the original Wuhan reference strain to the D614G variant, symptom order shifted to the USA pattern. Google Trends analyses supported these findings, while weather, age, and comorbidities did not affect our model’s predictions of symptom order. These findings indicate that symptom order can change with mutation in viral disease and raise the possibility that D614G variant is more transmissible because infected people are more likely to cough in public before being incapacitated with fever.
Lower promoter activity of the ST8SIA2 gene has been favored in evolving human collective brains
Authors: Hayakawa Toshiyuki , Terahara Masahiro , Fujito Naoko T. , Matsunaga Takumi , Teshima Kosuke M. , Hane Masaya , Kitajima Ken , Sato Chihiro , Takahata Naoyuki , Satta Yoko
Published: December 2021

ST8SIA2 is an important molecule regulating expression of the phenotype involved in schizophrenia. Lowered promoter activity of the ST8SIA2 gene is considered to be protective against schizophrenia by conferring tolerance to psychosocial stress. Here, we examined the promoter-type composition of anatomically modern humans (AMHs) and archaic humans (AHs; Neanderthals and Denisovans), and compared the promoter activity at the population level (population promoter activity; PPA) between them. In AMHs, the TCT-type, showing the second lowest promoter activity, was most prevalent in the ancestral population of non-Africans. However, the detection of only the CGT-type from AH samples and recombination tracts in AH sequences showed that the CGT- and TGT-types, exhibiting the two highest promoter activities, were common in AH populations. Furthermore, interspecies gene flow occurred into AMHs from AHs and into Denisovans from Neanderthals, influencing promoter-type compositions independently in both AMHs and AHs. The difference of promoter-type composition makes PPA unique in each population. East and Southeast Asian populations show the lowest PPA. This results from the selective increase of the CGC-type, showing the lowest promoter activity, in these populations. Every non-African population shows significantly lower PPA than African populations, resulting from the TCT-type having the highest prevalence in the ancestral population of non-Africans. In addition, PPA reduction is also found among subpopulations within Africa via a slight increase of the TCT-type. These findings indicate a trend toward lower PPA in the spread of AMHs, interpreted as a continuous adaptation to psychosocial stress arising in migration. This trend is considered as genetic tuning for the evolution of collective brains. The inferred promoter-type composition of AHs differed markedly from that of AMHs, resulting in higher PPA in AHs than in AMHs. This suggests that the trend toward lower PPA is a unique feature in AMH spread.
Supplementation of chicory root powder as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter on gut pH, gut microflora and gut histomorphometery of male broilers
Authors: Gurram Srinivas , V. Chinni Preetam. , K. Vijaya Lakshmi. , M. V. L. N. Raju. , M. Venkateshwarlu. , Bora Swathi
Published: December 2021

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of chicory root powder on the gut performance of broilers. For this purpose, two hundred commercial male broiler chicks were randomly divided into 5 treatment groups with 8 replications of 5 birds each and reared in battery brooders up to 42 days of age. The experimental design consisted of; T1 basal diet (BD) without antibiotic, T2: BD + antibiotic (BMD at 500 gm/ton), T3: BD + chicory root powder (0.5%), T4: BD + chicory root powder (1.0%), T5: BD + chicory root powder (1.5%). The results revealed that supplementation of 1.0% chicory root powder recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight gain, feed intake and better feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to antibiotic, control and 0.5 & 1.5% chicory powder at 42 days of age. Supplementation of various levels of chicory root powder significantly (P<0.05) lowered (P<0.05) the pH in duodenum, jejunum, ileum and caecum compared to control. Supplementation of chicory root powder (0.5, 1.0 & 1.5%) significantly (P<0.05) decreased the E. coli and Salmonella counts and (P<0.05) increased the Lactobacilli counts in ileum when compared to control and antibiotic groups. Supplementation of chicory (1.0% and 1.5%) groups significantly (P<0.05) increased the villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), VH:CD ratio and villus width (VW) in the duodenum, ileum and jejunum at 42 d of age. Supplementation of chicory 1.0% and 1.5% groups significantly (P<0.05) increased the goblet cell number in duodenum, jejunum and ileum of broilers. Therefore, chicory root powder (1.0 and 1.5%) can be used as an alternative to antibiotic for improving gut performance of broiler chicken.
MHANet: A hybrid attention mechanism for retinal diseases classification
Authors: Xu Lianghui , Wang Liejun , Cheng Shuli , Li Yongming
Published: December 2021

With the increase of patients with retinopathy, retinopathy recognition has become a research hotspot. In this article, we describe the etiology and symptoms of three kinds of retinal diseases, including drusen(DRUSEN), choroidal neovascularization(CNV) and diabetic macular edema(DME). In addition, we also propose a hybrid attention mechanism to classify and recognize different types of retinopathy images. In particular, the hybrid attention mechanism proposed in this paper includes parallel spatial attention mechanism and channel attention mechanism. It can extract the key features in the channel dimension and spatial dimension of retinopathy images, and reduce the negative impact of background information on classification results. The experimental results show that the hybrid attention mechanism proposed in this paper can better assist the network to focus on extracting thr fetures of the retinopathy area and enhance the adaptability to the differences of different data sets. Finally, the hybrid attention mechanism achieved 96.5% and 99.76% classification accuracy on two public OCT data sets of retinopathy, respectively.
A systematic review of self-report measures used in epidemiological studies to assess alcohol consumption among older adults
Authors: Tevik Kjerstin , Bergh Sverre , Selbæk Geir , Johannessen Aud , Helvik Anne-S.
Published: December 2021

Background

There is a lack of standardization regarding how to assess and categorize alcohol intake in older adults. The aim of this study was to systematically review methods used in epidemiological studies to define drinking patterns and measure alcohol consumption among older adults.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in the MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases for studies published from January 2009 to April 2021. Studies were included if they were observational studies with a quantitative design; the mean age of the participants was ≥ 65 years; questionnaires, screening tools, or diagnostic tools were used to define alcohol consumption; and alcohol consumption was self-reported.

Results

Of 492 studies considered, 105 were included. Among the 105 studies, we detected 19 different drinking patterns, and each drinking pattern had a wide range of definitions. The drinking patterns abstaining from alcohol, current drinking, and risk drinking had seven, 12 and 21 diverse definitions, respectively. The most used questionnaire and screening tools were the quantity-frequency questionnaire, with a recall period of 12 months, and the full and short versions of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, respectively.

Conclusion

No consensus was found regarding methods used to assess, define, and measure alcohol consumption in older adults. Identical assessments and definitions must be developed to make valid comparisons of alcohol consumption in older adults. We recommend that alcohol surveys for older adults define the following drinking patterns: lifetime abstainers, former drinkers, current drinkers, risk drinking, and heavy episodic drinking. Standardized and valid definitions of risk drinking, and heavy episodic drinking should be developed. The expanded quantity-frequency questionnaire including three questions focused on drinking frequency, drinking volume, and heavy episodic drinking, with a recall period of 12 months, could be used.
Effects of nurse-led transitional care interventions for patients with heart failure on healthcare utilization: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Li Minlu , Li Yuan , Meng Qingtong , Li Yinyin , Tian Xiaomeng , Liu Ruixia , Fang Jinbo
Published: December 2021

Background

Heart failure (HF) imposes a substantial burden on patients and healthcare systems. Hospital-to-home transitional care, involving time-limited interventions delivered predominantly by nurses, was introduced to lighten this burden. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness and dose-response of nurse-led transitional care interventions (TCIs) on healthcare utilization among patients with HF.

Methods

Health-related databases were systematically searched for articles published from January 2000 to June 2020. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared nurse-led TCIs with usual care for adults hospitalized with HF and reported the following healthcare utilization outcomes: all-cause readmissions, HF-specific readmissions, emergency department visits, or length of hospital stay. Random-effects meta-analysis, meta-regression analysis, and dose-response analysis were performed to estimate the treatment effects and explain the heterogeneity.

Results

Twenty-five RCTs including 8422 patients with HF were included. Nurse-led TCIs for patients with HF resulted in a mean 9% (RR = 0.91; 95% CI = 0.82 to 0.99; p = 0.04; I2 = 46%) and 29% (RR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.60 to 0.84; p < 0.0001; I2 = 0%) reduction in all-cause and HF-specific readmission risks respectively compared to usual care. The interventions were also effective in shortening the length of hospital stay (MD = -2.37; 95% CI = -3.16 to -1.58; p < 0.0001; I2 = 14%). However, no significant reduction was found for emergency department visits (RR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.84 to 1.10; p = 0.58; I2 = 0%). The effect of meta-regression coefficients on all-cause and HF-specific readmissions was not statistically significant for any prespecified trial-level characteristic. Dose-response analysis revealed that the HF-specific readmission risk decreased in a dose-dependent manner with the complexity and intensity of nurse-led TCIs.

Conclusions

Nurse-led TCIs were effective in decreasing all-cause and HF-specific readmission risks, as well as in reducing the length of hospital stay; however, the interventions were not effective in reducing the frequency of emergency department visits.
Clearing-induced tisssue shrinkage: A novel observation of a thickness size effect
Authors: Vulders R. C. M. , van Hoogenhuizen R. C. , van der Giessen E. , van der Zaag P. J.
Published: December 2021

The use of clearing agents has provided new insights in various fields of medical research (developmental biology, neurology) by enabling examination of tissue architecture in 3D. One of the challenges is that clearing agents induce tissue shrinkage and the shrinkage rates reported in the literature are incoherent. Here, we report that for a classical clearing agent, benzyl-alcohol benzyl-benzoate (BABB), the shrinkage decreases significantly with increasing sample size, and present an analytical formula describing this.
Reseña de Border Wars. The conflicts that will define our future
Authors: Ferrer Gallardo Xavier
Published: December 2021

Escrito por Klaus Dodds, profesor de geopolítica de la Universidad Royal Holloway de Londres, este texto es algo así como un manual de instrucciones para viajar al futuro de los conflictos geopolíticos y para empezar a vislumbrar un conjunto de nuevas guerras fronterizas cuyas bases se están gestando en la actualidad. Es, en otras palabras, una suerte de guía para interpretar las luchas de poder sobre el territorio que van a condicionar las relaciones internacionales en los años venideros.
A Review on Synthesis and Pharmacological Activities of Piracetam and its Derivatives
Authors: Dhama Nidhi , Sucheta  , Kumar Aadesh , Verma Vikrant , Kumar Sunil
Published: December 2021

Piracetam is generally utilized as a nootropic drug, which is normally used in the treatment of CNS
disorders. Piracetam is a cyclic compound and a derivative of γ-aminobutyric acid and improves learning,
memory, brain metabolism, and ability. This drug belongs to the racetams group with the chemical
name 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide. The emphasis of this review article is to highlight different
biological activities associated with piracetam and also some of its synthetic methodologies. Promising
effects have been achieved in the management and treatment of several diseases for example alcoholism,
Raynaud’s phenomenon, deep vein thrombosis and brain injury.
Adsorption-Desorption, Thermogravimetric Analysis and Antimicrobial Activity of Purple
Brassica oleracea var. capitata F. rubra (Purple Cabbage) as Sustainable Natural Wool Dye
Authors: Al-Qadri Fatima A. , Alsaiari Raiedhah , Alsaiari Mabkhoot , Musa Esraa Mohamed , Shedaiwa Iman Mohammad , Mohamed Mervate Mohamed , Alkorbi Faeza
Published: December 2021

This study focussed on the dyeing wool fabrics with colourant purple Brassica oleracea var. capitata
F. rubra. The process of dyeing was taken place at 60 ºC and pH 5. Adsorption and desorption isotherms
experiments investigated by Langmuir and Frendulich models, Langmuir was fitted with the
experimental data dyeing adsorption than Freundlich model. The adsorption kinetic of dyeing
experiments was studied by using pseudo-first and pseudo-second models and pseudo-second model
was more suitable for wool dyeing experiment. The thermal stability of the dye (purple Brassica
oleracea var. capitata F. rubra) was studied using thermogravimetric and differential thermal
(TGA/DTG) analysis. The antimicrobial activity of purple cabbage methanolic extract recorded of
high exhibited Staphylococus aureus (17-18 mm), weak against fungi (11-12 mm), moderate against
Bacillus subtilis (14-15 mm) and no results against Escherichia coli. The results obtained from aqueous
and petroleum were negative.
Synthesis and Spectral Studies of Piprazine Schiff Base Lanthanide(III)
Complexes and their Microbial and Anticancer Activity
Authors: Geethalakshmi V. , Nalini N. , Sabithamala S.S. , Tamilselvi D. , Theivarasu C.T.
Published: December 2021

A novel Schiff base ligand has been synthesized by the condensation reaction of 1-(2-amino
ethyl)piprazine with o-vanillin in methanol solution. Using lanthanide(III) metal ions (Ln3+ = La3+,
Ce3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Sm3+ and Gd3+) in methanol, six complexes of piprazine Schiff base were synthesized.
All the lanthanide(III) complexes were characterized by IR, UV, NMR, TG-DTA, X-ray diffraction
analysis and photoluminence. According to the spectral analysis piprazine act as a bidentate monobasic
donor coordinating through the azomethine nitrogen and a phenyl oxygen atom. Antimicrobial studies
of the synthesized compounds were evaluated and reported. Anticancer activities were also studied
towards the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7).
Photodegradation of Rhodamine B using Aqueous Free-Base
Porphyrin and Metalloporphyrins of Divalent Metal Ions
Authors: Gokakakar S.D. , Salker A.V.
Published: December 2021

The present study is focused on the photodegradation of rhodamine B using aqueous free-base
photocatalysts in presence of solar radiation. All catalysts such as free-base tetrasodium
meso-tetra(p-sulphonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS4) or abbreviated as TPS and substituting M = Co,
Ni, Cu, Zn and Ag into the moiety of TPS to get metalloporphyrins, were synthesized. Further, they
were characterized by UV-visible, IR and 1H MMR spectroscopic techniques. The photodegradation
of rhodamine B of concentration 10-5 M was carried out with 5 mg of a photocatalyst of free-base and
other metalloporphyrins. It was observed that these synthesized photocatalysts have shown the
photodegradation efficiency to the extent of 100% within time period of 5 to 40 min. The process of
degradation was verified with HPLC and ion-chromatography
Kinetic Oxidation Studies of Pentoxifylline by N-Chlorosuccinimide in
Acidic Medium Using Iridium(III) Chloride as Inhibitor
Authors: Patel Rakesh , Prakash Ravi , Bala Ritu Swamini , Prajapati Brijesh Kumar , Yadav Rupam
Published: December 2021

In present study, the kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of pentoxifylline (PTX) by
N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) in acidic conditions at 40 ± 0.1 ºC is reported. The reaction depicts
first-order kinetics in regard to [NCS], [PTX] and [HClO4]. The reaction rate goes on decreasing as
the concentration of iridium(III) chloride is increased. This shows that iridium(III) chloride plays the
role of an inhibitor in the reaction under investigation. Nil impact of [Hg(OAc)2], [NHS] and dielectric
constant (D) of the medium on the rate of oxidation of pentoxifylline have been observed. This reaction
has been investigated from 308-323 K and the monitored rate of reaction suggests a direct relationship
between temperature and the rate of reaction. From the graph between log k and 1/T, value of activation
energy (Ea) was numerated and more activation parameters like enthalpy of activation (ΔH#), entropy
of activation (ΔS#) and free energy of activation (ΔG#) were calculated with the help of activation
energy (Ea). On account of experimentally determined the kinetic orders and activation parameters, a
most plausible reaction path has been suggested for the oxidation of pentoxifylline in presence of
Ir(III) as an inhibitor.
Different Coating Methods of Titanium Dioxide on Metal
Substrates for Orthopedic and Dental Applications: A Review
Authors: Mathai Suja , Shaji Priyanka S.
Published: December 2021

The outstanding physico-chemical characteristics to assist bone regeneration and cell development,
titanium dioxide (TiO2) based materials have showed significant promise for applications in implants.
Due to its excellent performance in a wide variety of applications, chemical stability, and inexpensive
cost, this metal oxide has received the more attention. Coating techniques for creating surfaces made
of this substance have been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this review article is to look at the
current status of TiO2 technology for orthopedic and dental implants. Over the years, researchers have
investigated several TiO2 coating deposition techniques on metal implants, with the goal of improving
adhesion strength and long-term dependability. This review examines a variety of TiO2 deposition
techniques on metal substrates in depth. Anodization, sol-gel method, plasma spray coating, cold
spray coating, high velocity oxy-fuel spray, high velocity suspension flame spraying, pulsed laser
deposition (PLD), ion beam deposition (IBD), magnetron sputtering deposition, electrophoretic
deposition (EPD), electrochemical deposition and biomimetic deposition are among the methods
examined.
Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Exclusively Breast Fed Infants in Suburban Area Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Authors: Agrawal Rohit Kumar , Sharma Preeti , Kumar Pradeep , Jaggi Mehek , Sharma Rachna
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age with all its beneficial effects on child survival. Several studies have shown that adequate intake of vitamin D cannot be met with human milk as the sole source of vitamin D, although risk factors for developing vitamin D deficiency may be low maternal levels of vitamin D, indoor confinement during the day, living at higher altitudes, living in urban areas with tall buildings, air pollution, darker skin pigmentation, use of sunscreen and covering much over the body when outside. An infant who is entirely on breastfeeding and has minimal to no exposure to sunlight is more prone to the development of hypovitaminosis-D. The main purpose of the study was to identify the prevalence & high-risk groups of hypovitaminosis D in exclusively breastfed babies. METHODS It was a cross-sectional observational study consisting of 30 entirely breastfed healthy full-term babies with a birth weight > 2.5 kg. Babies born to mothers with a history of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, antepartum haemorrhage, tuberculosis, and other chronic medical illnesses were excluded from the study. The period of study was from 1st August 2019 to 30th September 2019. Their serum vitamin D3, serum calcium, serum phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase levels were measured using appropriate methods. RESULTS In our study, 25 infants out of 30 came out as vitamin D deficient. The prevalence of vitamin D3 was found to be 83 %. CONCLUSIONS Breastfeeding is of utmost importance but the nutritional status of the mother, proper exposure to the sun, and vitamin D supplementation are the factors that should be taken care of for the prevention of hypovitaminosis D. KEY WORDS Vitamin D3, Hypovitaminosis D, Exclusive Breast Feeding, term babies, infants, Sun Exposure, Rickets
Impact of Family Function and Psychosocial Factors on Development of Anxiety and Depression in First-Year Medical Students
Authors: Lisica Delila , Ramakic Elma , Dzubur-Alic Amela
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND In the first year of studies, students face many changes. On one side is the demanding medical education, and on the other side, is to find a balance with old friends, parents, and a new social environment. These changes may result in psychological symptoms such as anxiety or depression, which is the most commonly, reported mental disorder among students. This study intended to explore the presence of anxiety and depression symptoms in first-year medical students and investigate how family cohesion, flexibility and psychosocial factors influence anxiety and depression. METHODS 149 medical students (76.5 % females and 23.5 % males) took part in a crosssectional study. The survey was conducted via the sociodemographic questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, the short version of Loneliness Scale, Family Adaptability & Cohesion Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. RESULTS The prevalence of moderate and severe anxiety and depression symptoms among medical students was 53.8 % and 19.5 %, respectively. Female students experienced higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to their male colleagues. Students who had physical activities at least once a week showed significantly lower anxiety and depression scores. Anxiety and depression were positively associated with loneliness and negatively associated with perceived social support from family and self-esteem. Depression was also negatively associated with family cohesion and adaptability. Moreover, the results revealed that family cohesion was a strong predictor of the severity of depression symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that variables such as gender, physical activities, feeling of loneliness, low self-esteem, and perceived social support from family play an important role in the experience of anxiety and depression among medical students. This study raises awareness about mental disorders in medical students, especially anxiety and depression, and invites the placement of these problems among the top priorities of public health policies. KEY WORDS Anxiety; Depression, Family Relations, Students
Comparative Study of AMPL, Pyomo and JuMP Optimization Modeling Languages on a Flood Control Problem Example
Authors: Karbowski Andrzej , Wyskiel Krzysztof
Published: December 2021

The purpose of this work is a comparative study of three languages (environments) of optimization modeling: AMPL, Pyomo and JuMP. The comparison will be based on three implementations of an optimal discrete-time flood control problem formulated as a nonlinear programming problem. The codes for individual models and differences between them will be presented and discussed. Various aspects will be taken into account, e.g. simplicity and intuitiveness of implementation.
Control System of Two Handed Service Robot
Authors: Seredyński Dawid
Published: December 2021

This work presents an example control system of a service robot. All used concepts, tools and open source software are described. The control system is presented starting from configuration of hardware, specification, up to its implementation. Generality of the image allows the reader to look at the problem globally, while some important, detailed aspects are highlighted. Simulation–related problems are also described. The presented system of WUT Velma robot has been used in many research works.
Project and Software of a Robotic Welding Station Using Virtual Reality Technology
Authors: Pietruś Paulina , Muszyńska Magdalena , Szybicki Dariusz
Published: December 2021

The use of VR technology in various industries, including in the industry is constantly growing. ABB is one of the first companies to introduce programming using virtual reality to its offer. This system greatly facilitates the work of an engineer, allowing the user to interact with 3D models through virtual reality goggles. The article presents the design and software of a robotic station that enables the creation of movement instructions using virtual reality technology. The review of the existing industrial solutions using VR technology in welding simulators and other industries. A project of a welding station in the RobotStudio environment was presented and built. Software was written using virtual reality and a model of the real tool was made using the 3D printing method. The designed welding station was tested.
A Network of Miniature Thermal Imaging Sensors for Object Detection and Tracking
Authors: Bieszczad Grzegorz , Sosnowski Tomasz , Sawicki Krzysztof , Gogler Sławomir , Ligienza Andrzej , Mścichowski Mariusz
Published: December 2021

This paper presents a concept and implementation of an infrared imaging sensor network for object localization and tracking. The sensor network uses multiple low-resolution (80× 80 pixels) microbolometric thermal cameras to detect, track and locate an object within the area of observation. The network uses information simultaneously acquired from multiple sensors to detect and extract additional information about object’s location. The use of thermal-imaging systems responsive to objects’ natural infrared radiation, makes the system resistant to external illumination and environmental conditions. At the same time, the use of infrared sensor requires application of specially designed, dedicated image processing techniques appropriate for this kind of sensor. The paper describes: image processing techniques, means of object localization, accuracy measurements, comparison to other known solutions and final conclusions.
Impact of the physical rehabilitation onset time in early recovery period of ischemic stroke (second stage of medical rehabilitation) on the level of daily activity and independence
Authors: Kotov S. V. , Kodzokova L. H. , Isakova E. V. , Kotov A. S.
Published: December 2021

Ischemic stroke (IS) is the leading cause of neurological inpatient care, readmission, and long-term disability. Until now, there is no single point of view on when the second stage of medical rehabilitation after an IS should be started and the amount of the rehabilitation activities.Objective: to compare the effectiveness of the course of motor rehabilitation during the first 30–90 days and 91–180 days after IS.Patients and methods. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 included 44 patients in whom ≤3 months passed from IS onset, and group 2–39 patients in whom >3 but <6 months have passed since the IS onset. All patients included in the study received physiotherapy exercises, simulator exercises, robotic mechanotherapy, physiotherapy, massage, speech therapy, cognitive training, and secondary IS prevention.Results and discussion. In both groups patients got a positive treatment result: a significant increase in muscle strength, gait stability, quality, and speed. The number of patients who achieved independence (≤2 points on the Rankin scale) before the start of the rehabilitation course among patients of group 1 was 9.4%, after the end of the course – 40.6%. More initially independent patients were included in the group 2 – 28.6%; after a course of rehabilitation, the proportion of independent patients increased to 35.7%.Conclusion. Rehabilitation courses are effective in patients who have had IS, both in the first three months and in the period from the 4th to the 6th month. It is advisable to conduct the second stage of medical rehabilitation earlier after a stroke.