bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Selected Demographic and Clinical Factors on the Social and Economic Situation of Patients after Surgical Treatment of Lumbosacral Discopathy
Authors: Ślusarz Robert , Filipska Karolina , Haor Beata , Królikowska Agnieszka , Jabłońska Renata , Śniegocki Maciej
Published: March 2021

Introduction. Discopathic lesions of the lumbosacral spine are the most frequently recorded diseases of the osteoarticular and peripheral nervous system.Aim. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of selected demographic and clinical factors on the social and economic situation of patients after surgical treatment of the lumbosacral discopathy.Material and Methods. The research was carried out at the Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital in Bydgoszcz on a group of 137 patients diagnosed with lumbosacral discopathy. The study consisted of double assessment of the patient’s condition, taking into account the social and economic situation of the respondents. The Prolo Scale was used for this purpose.Results. It was found that both the social and economic situation of the respondents after the surgery was definitely better than before the surgery (p < 0.001). Final results were independent of gender, age and location of the lesion (p > 0.05). A statistically significant dependence of the final results on the type of work performed, the intensity of pain and the patient’s body weight was demonstrated (p < 0.05).Conclusions. The social and economic situation of patients with diagnosed lumbosacral discopathy improves significantly after surgery. There was a relationship between the type of work performed and the social and economic situation of the respondents. Among the clinical factors, the degree of pain intensity and the patient’s body weight significantly influenced the social and economic situation of the respondents. (JNNN 2020;9(3):97–102)
Balance and Gait Assessment and the Risk of Falls in Seniors During Hospitalization
Authors: Haor Beata , Krychowiak Aleksandra , Królikowska Agnieszka
Published: March 2021

Introduction. Falls and mobility disorders are classified as large geriatric syndromes, which in turn lead to deficits in the functional fitness of the elderly.Aim. Fall risk analysis in the group of hospitalized seniors, including socio-demographic variables.Material and Methods. The research used the estimation and diagnostic survey method, the estimation scale technique and questionnaires. The research tool was the Tinetti questionnaire. The research was conducted among 100 seniors during their hospitalization.Results. Seniors in younger age categories, with higher education level, married and living with a family, scored higher on the Tinetti scale.Conclusions. Hospitalization, age advancement, lower education, single marital status and lonely household management by seniors significantly increased the risk of their falls. Gender was not a factor that significantly differentiated the risk of falling. (JNNN 2020;9(4):127–131)
Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation Acutely Lowers the Response Threshold of Human Motor Circuits
Authors: Potok Weronika , Bächinger Marc , van der Groen Onno , Cretu Andreea Loredana , Wenderoth Nicole
Published: March 2021

Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) over cortical areas has been shown to acutely improve performance in sensory detection tasks. One explanation for this behavioral effect is stochastic resonance (SR), a mechanism that explains how signal processing in nonlinear systems can benefit from added noise. While acute noise benefits of electrical RNS have been demonstrated at the behavioral level as well as inin vitropreparations of neural tissue, it is currently largely unknown whether similar effects can be shown at the neural population level using neurophysiological readouts of human cortex. Here, we hypothesized that acute tRNS will increase the responsiveness of primary motor cortex (M1) when probed with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Neural responsiveness was operationalized via the well-known concept of the resting motor threshold (RMT). We showed that tRNS acutely decreases RMT. This effect was small, but it was consistently replicated across four experiments including different cohorts (totalN= 81, 46 females, 35 males), two tRNS electrode montages, and different control conditions. Our experiments provide critical neurophysiological evidence that tRNS can acutely generate noise benefits by enhancing the neural population response of human M1.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTA hallmark feature of stochastic resonance (SR) is that signal processing can benefit from added noise. This has mainly been demonstrated at the single-cell levelin vitrowhere the neural response to weak input signals can be enhanced by simultaneously applying random noise. Our finding that transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) acutely increases the excitability of corticomotor circuits extends the principle of noise benefits to the neural population level in human cortex. Our finding is in line with the notion that tRNS might affect cortical processing via the SR phenomenon. It suggests that enhancing the response of cortical populations to an external stimulus might be one neurophysiological mechanism mediating performance improvements when tRNS is applied to sensory cortex during perception tasks.
LUCES E SOMBRAS DO NOVO PLAN AUTONÓMICO DE FINANCIAMENTO DAS UNIVERSIDADES GALEGAS (2016-2020)
Authors: FERNÁNDEZ LÓPEZ Sara , VAQUERO GARCÍA Alberto
Published: March 2021

A finais de 2015 aprobouse o novo modelo de financiamento autonómico doSistema Universitario de Galicia para o período 2016-2020. Este novo sistema pon énfaseno axuste dos cadros de persoal do PDI á demanda real de estudos e mantén o peso dofinanciamento baseado en resultados, deixando algúns interrogantes abertos con relacióná súa aplicación. O obxectivo deste artigo é sinalar os principais elementos deste novoplan de financiamento, tanto no que se refire ás melloras que introduce, como áslimitacións que presenta.At the end of 2015 the new state funding model of the Galician UniversitySystem (SUG) was approved. This new system places emphasis on adjusting academicstaff to the real demand for studies and lays stress on performance-based funding, leavingsome implementing issues unresolved. The aim of this paper is to highlight the mainaspects of this new funding model regarding both its improvements and its unexpectedlimitations.
Phase composition of galvanic iron-nickel alloys obtained using pulsed current
Authors: Ganich R.P. , Zabludovsky V.O. , Artemchuk V.V. , Zelenko Y.V. , Markul R.V.
Published: March 2021

The paper presents the results of studying the phase composition of iron-nickel alloys obtained by unsteady electrolysis. It was found that the use of a unipolar pulse current leads to a significant increase in the crystallization overvoltage at the crystallization front at the moment of the pulse action, which affects the component composition of the coatings. The phase composition of the alloys formed at the cathode differs from that shown in the iron-nickel equilibrium diagram.
Simulation of the Propagation of Electromagnetic Oscillations by the Method of the Modified Equation of the Telegraph Line
Authors: Politansky R.L. , Nytrebych Z.M. , Petryshyn R.I. , Kogut I.T. , Malanchuk O.M. , Vistak M.V.
Published: March 2021

The article considers the physical processes associated with the propagation of electromagnetic oscillations in a long line, the size of which is the same or slightly greater than the length of the electromagnetic wave (not more than ten times). As a research method, the differential-symbolic method is used, which is applied to the modified equation of the telegraph line. The boundary conditions for the two-point problem as well as additional parameters that are coefficients for the first derivatives in terms of coordinate and time in comparison with the classical equation of the telegraph line are considered as parameters for controlling the process of propagation of electromagnetic oscillations. Based on the differential-symbolic method, the boundary conditions of the two-point problem are found, under which the most characteristic oscillatory processes are realized in a long line. Based on the research, it is possible to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of analytical methods for the analysis of specific technical objects and control of the processes that take place in them.
Influence of cooling rate on the formation of the primary structure of deformable aluminum alloys
Authors:   Physico-Technological Institute of Metals and Alloys of NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Nogovitsyn A.V. , Lakhnenko V.L. ,   Physico-Technological Institute of Metals and Alloys of NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Baranov I.R. ,   Physico-Technological Institute of Metals and Alloys of NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Published: March 2021

Today, in the world, it is widely used in the production of aerospace equipment, sea vessels, railway transport and cars have high-strength aluminum alloys Al-Zn-Mg-Cu (for example, B95) and alloys of medium Al-Mg (AMg5), Al-Si-Mg ( AD35) and increased strength Al-Cu-Mg (D16). An in-depth study of individual factors that directly affect the structure of the work piece can be crucial for improving product quality during further thermomechanical processing. The article defines data on the grain size of the primary phase of aluminum alloys depending on the cooling rate of castings of various aluminum alloys (AD35, B95, D16, AMg5). It is shown that an increase in the cooling rate from 2-8 ° C / s to almost 1000 ° C / s leads to a decrease in the grain size of the фазы-phase from 200 μm to 10-40 μm. As a result of the experiments carried out in the work, the intervals of hardening of the investigated aluminum alloys were determined. It is shown that aluminum alloys containing copper in the chemical composition (≥1%) have a significantly wider crystallization range, in particular, B95 (1600C) and D16 ( 1320C). The samples of strip used in this work from high-strength aluminum alloys obtained by roll casting, to expand the range of investigated cooling rates, have a homogeneous structure with a uniform distribution of phase components, which ensures high functional properties of rolled products from high-strength, heat-strengthened alloys of the Al-Cu and AL-Zn systems. The obtained data of the research results can be recommended for use in the development of the domestic technology of roll casting of high-strength aluminum alloys. Keywords: High-strength aluminum alloys, roll casting, cooling rate, solidification time, differential thermal analysis, grain size.
The cooling rate effect during a continuously cast billet solidification on the dendritic structure features of carbon steel
Authors:   Z.I. Nekrasov Iron and Steel Institute of  NAS of Ukraine, Dnipro, Babachenko O.I. , Domina K.G. ,   Z.I. Nekrasov Iron and Steel Institute of  NAS of Ukraine, Dnipro, Kononenko G.A. ,   Z.I. Nekrasov Iron and Steel Institute of  NAS of Ukraine, Dnipro, Safronov O.L. ,   Z.I. Nekrasov Iron and Steel Institute of  NAS of Ukraine, Dnipro, Klinova O.P. ,   Z.I. Nekrasov Iron and Steel Institute of  NAS of Ukraine, Dnipro
Published: March 2021

The analysis of the formation process of the cast structure of carbon steel grade ОС (ДСТУ ГОСТ 4728:2014) after the completion of its crystallization with a change in a wide range of metal cooling rate during solidification of a continuously cast billet (ССB) with a diameter of 450 mm has been carried out. The effect of the cooling rate during the solidification of ССB Ø 450 mm on the parameters of the chemical heterogeneity of the distribution of silicon and manganese in the microstructure of carbon steel has been shown. It has been determined that the effect of the metal cooling rate during the solidification of the investigated CCB on the size of dendritic crystals is described by the inversely proportional relationship: у = 423.75 х-0,161. With a change in the cooling rate of the metal during solidification from 106 до 1 °C/min, the size of the dendrites in the direction from the surface to the central layers of the CCB Ø 450 mm increased by ~ 8 times, and the density of the dendritic structure of carbon steel ОС decreases by 65 times. In this case, the nature of its dependence on the intensity of heat removal is the opposite nature of the change in the size of dendrites. It has been established that by varying the cooling rate in the range 1 – 106 °C/min, one can achieve a significant change in the average size and density of dendritic crystals while maintaining the constancy of the volume fraction of segregation areas of silicon and manganese ~ 24% in carbon steel (0.42 – 0.50 % wt. C). It has been determined that in the entire investigated range of cooling rates 1 – 106 °C/min, the coefficients of dendritic segregation КдI and КдII of silicon and manganese change insignificantly and amount to 1.8-1.9 and 1.5 for КдI and КдII, respectively. In this case, the values of the coefficients КдI and КдII for both elements are practically constant in both pearlite and ferrite. It has been proven that both silicon and manganese have high diffusion mobility only at sufficiently high temperatures, when steel is in a solid-liquid state. Based on the results of X-ray microanalysis, it has been established that the heterogeneity of the distribution of chemical elements, which is formed as a result of dendritic segregation of silicon and manganese, is the primary and constant component of the microstructure of carbon steel. Keywords: carbon steel, continuously cast billet, solidification, cooling rate, dendritic structure.
The deformation rate, atomic mobility and mechanical properties of metals
Authors:   G.V. Kurdyumov Institute of  Metal Physics of  NAS of Ukraine, of  Ukraine, Kyiv, Gertsriken D.S. , Husak A.M. ,   Bohdan Khmelnytsky Cherkasy National University, Cherkasy, Mazanko V.F. ,   G.V. Kurdyumov Institute of  Metal Physics of  NAS of Ukraine, of  Ukraine, Kyiv, Bogdanov S. Ye. ,   G.V. Kurdyumov Institute of  Metal Physics of  NAS of Ukraine, of  Ukraine, Kyiv
Published: March 2021

The dependences of diffusion coefficients in metals with different crystal lattice (b.c.c., f.c.c., h.c.p., b.c.t.), subjected to pulse effects by different types of processing in a wide range of strain rates (10-2 - 106 s-1) without heating and at T < 0,5 Tpl. studied by m ethods based on the use of radioactive indicators 55Fe, 95Nb, 60Co, 65Zn, 63Ni, 26Al, 44Ti (layer-by-layer radiometric analysis of residual integral activity, macro- and microautoradiography). Used such types of processing as ultrasonic shock treatment, diffusion welding, shock load, magnetic pulse processing, etc. On the same materials subjected to the same types of processing, mechanical characteristics (impact strength, microhardness, tensile strength, etc.) were determined. In addition, literature data related to the determination of some mechanical characteristics in the deformation of metals at different speeds were used. It turned out that with increasing the rate of plastic deformation there is not only an increase in the mobility of atoms, but also a decrease in differences in the values of the diffusion coefficients of intrinsic atoms and other diffusers in different metals. Despite the large difference in melting temperatures, in particular zinc and niobium, their self-diffusion coefficients in the migration of atoms without heating at a rate of 106 s-1 differ only 1.5 times, while at 1 s-1 the difference in the mobility of atoms is 4 orders of magnitude. It is shown that the velocity dependences of diffusion and mechanical characteristics can be rectilinear, have extremum or inflection, but they will be approximately the same for diffusion coefficients and parameters that characterize the mechanical properties of metals under impulse loads. Establishing the type of velocity dependences for diffusion and mechanical characteristics makes it possible to determine intermediate and extrapolated values for both characteristics, as well as on the schedule of one dependence to predict the shape of the other with a certain accuracy. Keywords: radioactive isotopes, self- and heterodiffusion, pulse loads, strain rate, mechanical characteristic.
The influence of chemical composition on the heat resistance of casted structural steel
Authors:   National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Aftandiliants Y.G.
Published: March 2021

The paper presents the results of the study of the influence of chemical composition, temperature, stress and operating time on the creep and durability of structural steels. It is shown that the efficiency of structural steels in conditions of elevated temperatures and loads depends on the chemical composition, stress level, operating time and temperature. The influence of alloying elements is associated with the inhibition of the process of weakening of heat-resistant steels due to the reduction of their diffusion mobility and intensity of redistribution between the ferrite and secondary phases, their coagulation and reduction of structural defects. Mathematical models of relative elongation and fracture time in the process of creep from operating conditions and degree of alloying of steel are constructed. It is established that the efficiency of heat-resistant structural steels depends on 61 - 64% of the degree of alloying, 18 - 21% - the value of external stress, 7 - 18% - temperature and 11% of operating time. It is shown that the coagulation of carbides and nitrides in steels doped with nitrogen and vanadium is slower than carbides in steels doped with molybdenum, which more effectively shifts the softening process of heat-resistant steel in the region of higher temperatures and time. Keywords: steel, heat resistance, chemical composition, temperature, stress, creep, durability.
Increasing the ductility of the Al-Si alloy with low silicon content by deformation-heat treatment
Authors:   I. M. Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Kaverinsky V.V. , Baglyuk G.A. ,   I. M. Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Trotsan A.I. ,   I. M. Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Sukhenko Z.P. ,   I. M. Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv
Published: March 2021

A method of deformation-heat treatment is considered for Al-Si alloy with 4.5 % silicon, which consists in a series of small hot deformations with intermediate annealing. The proposed method allows one to achieve grinding and spheroidization of silicon inclusions, which in the cast state have the form of lamellar excreta at the grain boundaries and significantly reduce the plasticity of the material. Spheroidization, grinding and mixing of inclusions that are achieved during this deformation-heat treatment lead to significantly increase the ductility of the alloy without loss of hardness. The processes of structure change during the deformation of aluminum alloys with low Si content are insufficiently studied. In particular, of interest was the possibility of increasing the ductility of such materials by grinding and mixing silicon inclusions during hot deformation. In this case, to prevent a decrease in ductility due appearance of microconcentrators of stress in the form of acute angles of the crushed silicon inclusions, the deformation was carried out as a series of stages with intermediate annealing. In addition, it was assumed that the cyclic change of temperature in this mode will contribute to the spheroidization of fragments of crushed silicon inclusions by changing the solubility of silicon in solid solution from temperature. It is shown that the proposed mode of deformation-heat treatment of these alloys of the Al-Si system allows to significantly increase their ductility – the critical degree of deposition (deposition before cracking) from 67.8 % in the cast state to – 92.1 %. The hardness of the material can be increased by hardening under cold plastic deformation. In this case, since the material after deformation-heat treatment is more plastic, it has greater reserves for hardening in this way. It is shown that owing to hard plastic deformation, the hardness of the material of samples with 4.5 % Si, which has undergone deformation-heat treatment, can increase to values of 95 ± 17 HV, which is significantly higher than in the cast state. At the same time, the hardness (and, probably, strength) of a similar cast material can also be increased due to hardening, but to lower values – 67 ± 12 HV. Key words: aluminum, aluminum-based alloy, deformation-heat treatment, silicon inclusions, plasticity, hardness.
deconstrucción del “malestar en/de/por la Soberanía” y su papel en una crítica de la democracia representativa
Authors: Pérez Portales Oscar , Roland Madarasz Norman
Published: March 2021

En el presente trabajo se valora la impronta de la perspectiva deconstructiva del mal en/de/por la soberanía, en la obra de Jaques Derrida, para una crítica anti-idolátrica de la democracia. Parte del estudio crítico de dos tradiciones de fundamentación contemporánea de la democracia representativa. El examen de la propuesta de democracia deliberativa de Habermas y de la concepción de radicalización de la democracia de Ernesto Laclau, las cuales permiten evidenciar la reproducción del proceso de formalización de la democracia. Ambas critican al paradigma del conflicto material de clases de origen marxista y responden con una comprensión comunicativa que parte de la centralidad del lenguaje y el discurso como práctica subjetiva consensual. A partir de la reducción del proceso subjetivo a la anterioridad preminente del discurso, la democracia deja de comprender las condiciones materiales de reproducción del sujeto corporal. Marco ante el cual valoramos el papel de la crítica al malestar de la soberanía presente en la obra de Jaques Derrida. El pensamiento derridiano en torno al Malestar de Soberanía critica la reducción de la diferencia desde una constelación categorial y metódica que implica el reconocimiento del conflicto irreductible que representa la emergencia contingencial del otro. La espectralidad como intuición comprensiva permite la afirmación de la responsabilidad ética, como base de toda posición gnoseológica, que pretenda dar condición de posibilidad a un discurso verdadero. Posición que resguarda la posibilidad transformadora del ejercicio de la soberanía a partir de develar sus procesos de represión subjetiva. Esta constelación categorial es sustantiva a una crítica de la reducción de la democracia en tanto ejercicio soberano.
A literature survey on antimicrobial and immune-modulatory effects of butyrate revealing non-antibiotic approaches to tackle bacterial infections
Authors: Du Ke , Bereswill Stefan , Heimesaat Markus M.
Published: March 2021

The excessive prescription of antibiotics has led to an increasing number of antimicrobial resistances, posing a major public health concern. Therefore, the pharmacological research has shifted its focus to the identification of natural compounds that exhibit anti-pathogenic properties without triggering antibiotic resistance. Butyrate has received increasing attention as a promising candidate for the treatment of bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly when antibiotic treatment is contraindicated. This literature survey summarizes recently investigated antibacterial and immune-modulatory effects of butyrate. This survey revealed that butyrate exerts direct antimicrobial effects against distinct strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Bacillus, and Staphylococcus species. In addition, in vitro and in vivo studies confirmed indirect antimicrobial effects of butyrate, which were exhibited via induction of host defensin production as well as by activation of innate and adaptive immune responses. Finally, the synergistic action of butyrate in combination with other antimicrobial compounds results in a striking clearance of bacterial pathogens. In conclusion, butyrate and its derivatives might be considered as promising antibacterial and immune-modulatory agents in order to tackle bacterial infections without antibiotics.
Perceptions about the use of language in physical science classrooms: A discourse analysis
Authors: Semeon Nasimu , Mutekwe Edmore
Published: March 2021

The low enrolment, lack of interest, exacerbated by the general poor performance in physical science in South Africa paints a gloomy picture about the status of physical science in the country. Despite the fact that there might be other factors at play, one factor which cannot be ignored is the discourse about the use of language in the science classroom as viewed by physical science teachers. In the study reported on here a quantitative methodology was followed in which a closed-ended questionnaire survey was used as data collection tool. In the study we examined South African physical science teachers’ perceptions about the language use in science classrooms, and the study was informed by the Vygotskian socio-cultural theory (SCT). The target population from which a sample size of 37 physical science teachers was systematically sampled was high school classroom teachers and learners in Grades 10, 11 and 12 in the Ngaka Modiri Molema district of the North West province of South Africa. The study revealed that physical science teachers encountered difficulties with meanings of non-technical words used in science context. The conclusion drawn was that many physical science teachers were not proficient in the discourse of the science classroom and this often compromised their effectiveness in the teaching and learning of science. The main difficulty was confusion in differentiating between technical and non-technical words and the lack of convincing explanations of meanings of these words in teaching and learning. Key among the recommendations of this study was the need to address teachers’ challenges with regard to the language use and the implications thereof.
Lessons for South Africa from Singapore’s gifted education – A comparative study
Authors: Milne Annari , Mhlolo Mike
Published: March 2021

Since 1999 South African learners have participated in various international studies but sadly the learners have continued to perform dismally, which brings to question the quality of their education. Meanwhile, Singaporean students have been among the top achievers in all these competitions. Many comparative studies have been done between different nations and Singapore, but in few, if any, of these studies the focus has been on comparisons regarding gifted education. Singaporean policies and practices on gifted education generally prioritise a commitment to engaging learners from all ability levels with appropriately challenging curricula and instruction. In this article we report on a comparative study between the Singaporean and South African education systems. Three frames, (a) political context (b) curriculum structure and (c) loose coupling shaped the analysis. Results show that both countries had similar challenges at the point of independence from colonial rule and yet, they responded differently to those challenges. Singapore implemented inclusive education driven by excellence while South Africa’s inclusive education is driven by equity without excellence. South Africa has a one-size-fits-all curriculum, whereas Singapore has alternatives that create multiple pathways for learners to reach their full potential. Although gifted education is being proposed in current South African pronouncements, there is no evidence of coherence in terms of its implementation. Meanwhile, Singapore has a coherent system that ensures their policies move from theory into practice. All these are lessons that South Africa can learn.
English language skills for disciplinary purposes: What practices are used to prepare student teachers?
Authors: Mpofu Nhlanhla , Maphalala Mncedisi C
Published: March 2021

In the study reported on in this article, we explored the preparation practices used to prepare student teachers to use English language skills in disciplinary content teaching. Despite studies which emphasise generic academic literacy where language is a subset of this field discourse, there is a dearth of research studies on the use of English in the specific context of disciplines in initial teacher education (ITE), which is addressed here. Guided by social constructivism, we collected data from 102 purposively selected student teachers from 3 universities. A qualitative multiple case study design was used as the methodological tool, and data from focus group discussions and document analysis were collected, documented and analysed. The results of the analysis show that the student teachers were prepared using structured and unstructured English Across the Curriculum (EAC) pedagogical activities. Structured activities are content oriented learning processes that are largely rigid and prescriptive, while unstructured activities are rooted in the academic values and identity that are held in the institution. Although drawn from a relatively small sample, these findings may assist ITE institutions to develop a curriculum that attends to multiple strategies for developing student teachers’ strategic competence in EAC.
Information Volume of Fuzzy Membership Function
Authors: Deng Jixiang , Deng Yong
Published: March 2021

Fuzzy membership function plays an important role in fuzzy set theory. However, how to measure the information volume of fuzzy membership function is still an open issue. The existing methods to determine the uncertainty of fuzzy membership function only measure the first-order information volume, but do not take higher-order information volume into consideration. To address this issue, a new information volume of fuzzy membership function is presented in this paper, which includes the first-order and the higher-order information volume. By continuously separating the hesitancy degree until convergence, the information volume of the fuzzy membership function can be calculated. In addition, when the hesitancy degree of a fuzzy membership function equals to zero, the information volume of this special fuzzy membership function is identical to Shannon entropy. Two typical fuzzy sets, namely classic fuzzy sets and intuitiontistic fuzzy sets, are studied. Several examples are illustrated to show the efficiency of the proposed information volume of fuzzy membership function.
An Insight Into 3D Bioprinting and its Potential to Combat Various Diseases
Authors: Roy Choudhury Sonjoy , Saha Debanjan , Chatterjee Bhaskarjyaa , Banerjee Abhineet , Dash Sudipta , Chaudhuri Biswadeep
Published: March 2021

The existence of various organs in the human body and their ability to synchronise with one another in order to perform diverse functions is essential for the proper functioning of the body. However, these organs may get affected by various diseases caused due to pathogens and mutations
or may even get affected by hereditary diseases. Many of these diseases damage the organs and they may even be fatal to the person. In such cases it becomes essential to transplant healthy organs into the affected individual. These organs can be transplanted from a donor, but this process
has its own drawbacks. For this purpose, the novel approach involving the 3D bioprinting of organs for transplantation have paved the way to overcome the drawbacks. Three dimensional organs can be developed by allowing the 3D bioprinter to deposit layers of cells on scaffolds to develop tissues
and eventually the organs. It is necessary to ensure that the scaffold is capable of providing the right microenvironment and therefore supporting the type of tissue being cultured to develop the organ. Another important factor is the proper vascularisation of the organ being developed so
that it can be efficiently supplied with blood containing nutrients for its proper growth. Keeping these factors in mind 3D bioprinting is constantly evolving as an efficient process of producing organs for transplantation in patients with severe diseases. This review gives a better understanding
of the process of 3D bioprinting and its importance in the modern world.
Desenvolvimento e validação de um instrumento para avaliar intervenções em relação aos princípios da Promoção da Saúde
Authors: Loch Mathias Roberto , Lemos Emmanuelly Correia de , Jaime Patrícia Constante , Rech Cassiano Ricardo
Published: March 2021

Resumo Objetivo Desenvolver e validar um instrumento destinado a avaliar a proximidade de intervenções que buscam promover saúde, em relação aos princípios da Política Nacional de Promoção da Saúde do Brasil. Métodos Estudo transversal de desenvolvimento e validação de um instrumento, a partir de consulta a 20 trabalhadores, na análise da primeira versão, 19 na versão final, e mais 31 trabalhadores na análise da fidedignidade e da avaliação de conteúdo, realizada por dez especialistas na versão inicial e 12 na versão final. Foram utilizados o índice de validade de conteúdo, o alpha de Cronbach (α) e o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse. Resultados A adequação dos indicadores foi de 89,8%; a clareza de 82,5%; a consistência interna de α=0,80, e a correlação teste-reteste, de 0,93. Conclusão O instrumento apresentou validade e fidedignidade aceitáveis, podendo ser utilizado na avaliação de intervenções que tenham o objetivo de promover a saúde.
Laparoscopic Resection of a Giant Dedifferentiated Primary Retroperitoneal Mucinous Cystadenoma (PRMC) in a Young Woman: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: L Wu , X Li , J Li , Y Lai
Published: March 2021

Background: PRMC is a very rare benign tumor of the abdominal cavity that usually occurs in women, and PRMC demonstrate no specific findings on CT. There are many reports on the differential diagnosis and discussion of PRMC imaging, but there are few reports on the treatment of dedifferentiated PRMC using laparoscopic resection and postoperative follow-up.
Online Resources in Modern Media Relations
Authors: Nazaykin Alexander
Published: March 2021

The Internet environment has become a field of active interaction between the audience, companies and the media. The change in media communication has led to the emergence of new PR-techniques in the field of media relations. User-friendliness of the "new media" has caused an extensive growth of the Internet audience. Media personnel also actively use the benefits of the Internet. All this adds to the topicality of the research. The article examines the use of e-mail, websites, chats, forums, blogs and social networks in media relations. The author analyzes the advantages of these Internet resources for effective interaction in the context of high-tech development. He proves that modern World Wide Web provides big opportunities for media relations specialists to communicate with both target audiences and mass media. The author conducted a pilot study in order to find out how the Internet resources meet the audience’s expectations. This helped to determine the sources of information that are used by the respondents, and those which are not used. The respondents noted advantages and drawbacks of the key information sources and proposed ways of improvement. Basing on the analysis of the responses, the author creates a portrait of an information source that is ideal as viewed by Internet users.
Women's Magazines in Russian Provinces: Structural Characteristics
Authors: Boyko Vera
Published: March 2021

The article studies the structure of the contemporary Russian provincial magazines for women, determines their typological basis, examines establishment and development of the conception of women’s press in various historical periods, and, by the example of the media landscape of provincial magazines, analyzes the features of publicity within women’s community in a particular region. Provincial press, being closer to the reader and able to form a targeted content, has a great informational potential and accurately reflects the community’s interests. Therefore, one of its tasks is to optimize the media landscape of a local female community as its publicity factor. This adds to the topicality of the research. The study sample included 33 contemporary women's magazines from 17 provinces of Russia. The aim was to determine the typological features of the magazines and estimate the impact of women’s press on solving the topical gender issues of the Russian woman. The results show prevalence of specialized women’s magazines in provincial press, which correlates with the general trend in the periodical press. Meanwhile, their typological structure is not optimized enough: the periodicals do not always match the audience's demand, and do not take all opportunities for that, either. Besides, multitopic provincial periodicals find it difficult to compete with well-known national and foreign magazines. One of the positive trends is the development of periodicals focused on careers, businesswomen and women in politics.
Economic Aspects of Emergency Transition to Distance Education, or The Price of Going Online in Higher Education
Authors: Larionova Viola , Semenova Tatiana , Murzakhanova Elena , Daineko Liudmila
Published: March 2021

As Russian universities switched to distance education in March 2020 to prevent COVID-19 from spreading, self-paying students started questioning the fairness of tuition fees during the pandemic. They filed petitions, emphasizing that distance learning could not be equated to traditional classroom-based learning, that educational services were not delivered to the full extent, and that educational quality had decreased. On those grounds, students required cutting tuition fees down to the size of those in part-time or extramural education. To understand whether universities can afford making this step, we undertake to measure the price that they have paid for the transition to distance learning.For this purpose, we use data from a survey of faculty teaching and curriculum organization practices carried out at a federal university between March 23, 2020 and June21, 2020, which involved 4,099 faculty members, as well as financial records of some departments within that university. Findings show that teaching workload reduced by 15% with distance learning during the pandemic, and the number of contact hours decreased 1.7 times. However, the overall amount of faculty workload increased by 50%, first of all due to a 2.4-time rise in curriculum organization activities. Therefore, the transition to distance education led to a significant increase in faculty workload, given that contact hours were preserved. Furthermore, the university invested heavily in the transition to distance learning and continuity of educational processes during the pandemic, in particular by financing the establishment of a new department for digitalization of learning processes.An inference is made that distance education imposed by the pandemic has not been reduced to part-time or extramural studies. Decisions about cutting tuition fees for self-paying students should be made at the institutional level, with due regard for faculty workload and digitization costs.
Assessment of School Student Achievement in Traditional vs Developmental Education: Psychological and Pedagogical Analysis
Authors: Gordeeva Tamara , Sychev Oleg , Sidneva Anastasia
Published: March 2021

This study is a theoretical analysis of two student assessment systems that are most common in Russian schools: traditional performance grading and evaluation within the developmental education paradigm proposed by Daniil Elkonin and Vasily Davydov, which implies a set of assessment criteria for different types of achievement, self-assessment, peer assessment, and no focus on assessment results or comparisons.Elementary school students enrolled in traditional and developmental education systems became participants in two empirical studies. Projective techniques (Three Wishes and Three Questions to a Wise Man) were used to measure grades’ related anxiety among third- to fourth-graders in traditional (TE) and developmental classes (DE). Content analysis of children’s spontaneous wishes and questions to a wise man (N(TE) = 327, N(DE) = 153) shows that students in traditional classes are more anxious about their grades than those in developmental classes. In addition, only children in the traditional education system focus on formal assessment at the expense of mastery-based learning outcomes.The second study measured the relationship between grades and academic perseverance, motivation, and self-concept (N(TE) = 309, N(DE) = 78). The value and role of grades may vary in the structure of intrinsic and extrinsic academic motivation and perseverance, as their motivational function differs between the two systems of student assessment. Findings support the idea of organizing school assessments in the logic of developmental education, which is more differentiated, mastery-oriented, and objective. Furthermore, it is originally implemented in cooperation with children, supports the values of enquiry, initiative, independent thinking, and collective discussion, and is less focused on external control and diligence.
Yarı kurak ve tuzlu/jipsli alanlarda farklı arazi hazırlığı yöntemlerinin fidan gelişimine etkileri
Authors: ÖZ Yakup , GÖL Ceyhun
Published: March 2021

Bu çalışmada, yarı kurak iklim ve tuzlu/jipsli toprak özelliklerine sahip bir bölgede ağaçlandırma ve erozyon kontrolü amaçlı uygulanan farklı toprak işleme yöntemlerinin fidan çap/boy gelişimi üzerine etkileri incelenmiştir. Örnekleme çalışmaları 400 m2 alanlarda veya bu alanlar içine giren 300 m teraslar üzerinde yapılmıştır. Beş farklı toprak işleme parseline dikilen dört farklı ağaç türüne ait fidanların çap/boy gelişimi ve morfolojik özellikleri incelenmiştir. Yalancı akasya türünün en yüksek çap ve boy ortalamasına, BUROR teras arazi hazırlığının ise birim alanda yaşayan fidan sayısı ve fidan gelişimi bakımından en yüksek başarı ortalamasına sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Çukur dikim ile üst toprak işleme+çukur dikim aynı fidan gelişim özelliği göstermiştir. İbreli türler içerisinde sedir en düşük, kızılçam ise en yüksek fidan gelişimi göstermiştir.
Gerçekliğin Katmanları Arasından Üçüncü Sinemaya Doğru: “Ben, Daniel Blake”
Authors: CANTAŞ Azime , SERARSLAN Meral
Published: March 2021

Bu çalışma gerçekliğin yeniden üretimini, sinemadaki anlatı kavramı ekseninde ele alarak, Ken Loach’un I, Daniel Blake (Ben, Daniel Blake, 2016) filmi örneğinde tartışmaya çalışmıştır. Çalışmada, sinemasal anlatıların, siyasi ya da ideolojik fikirler doğrultusunda biçimlenişi üzerinde durulmaktadır. Loach sinemasının bu çalışmaya konu edilmesinde, dünyanın en zengin ülkelerinden biri olan İngiltere vatandaşı olması ve temalarını kapitalist sistemin ve politikalarının emek üzerindeki adaletsizliklerinden seçmesi etkili olmuştur. Çalışmanın nihai amacı sinemasal anlatı yapılarının özelliklerini saptamak, incelenen film örneğinde birinci ve ikinci sinema anlatısından üçüncü sinema anlatısına geçişin olup olmadığını tespit etmektir. Bu doğrultuda Brechtyen unsurlar, katharsis ve yabancılaştırma gibi kavramlar; kamera, kurgu, ses ve oyunculuk açısından ele alınmıştır. Çalışmada, yönetmenin, Ben, Daniel Blake filmiyle bir kez daha muhalif yönünü gösterdiği, gerçekçi bir üslup kullanarak, seyirciye sorgulama imkânı tanıdığı tespit edilmiştir. Film, ikinci sinemanın özelliği olan bireysel bir hikâye etrafında şekillenmiş görünse de filmin başkarakteri olan Daniel Blake’in kolektif duruşu ve muhalif tavrı, üçüncü sinemacıların anlatısından izler taşımaktadır. Loach, Ben, Daniel Blake filmi özelinde bir kez daha kolektif mücadelenin ahlaki bir sorumluluk olduğunu ve liberal politikaların rekabetçi anlayışının insani olmadığını göstermiştir.
Resolving the Hubble Constant Discrepancy: Revisiting the Effect of Local Environments
Authors: Doren Dennis M , Harasymiw James
Published: March 2021

Studies have found two differing sets of figures for the Hubble constant without clear direction for resolution of that difference. This article offers a direction for reconciling the measurement discrepancy. Research is reviewed and theory is described that indicate the resolution may be found in revisiting how the degree of mass in local environments affects computations. The idea that the expansion rate of the universe is invariably uniform is discounted, to be replaced by a range of figures depending on the mass density of the local environment underlying the measurement.
A Review of Inconsistencies and Unfounded Assumptions in Physics Enables A Path Forward
Authors: Oakley William
Published: March 2021

It is widely recognized significant parts of leading-edge physics are at an impasse. Perhaps it is time to re-evaluate long-standing inconsistencies and assumptions that have become dogma but are erroneous and blocking progress. Newtonʼs gravitational constant GN is assumed a natural constant, having originated via Newtonʼs notion of gravity as radial force acting on mass in flat observer space. But Einstein showed gravity due to curved space time with “mass” dimensionally c2 remote from the observer energy domain. Dirac stated (elementary) particles are “no more than electromagnetic energy localized in observer space”. This suggests gravity is emergent at the particle scale by spacetime curved in three dimensions. But Newtonʼs assumed radial force is consistent only with spacetime curvature in the two dimensions orthogonal to the radial, so how can GN be fundamental? Do the different dimensionalities of Newtonʼs and Einsteinʼs theories relate to the Dark Matter issue? Describing the electron as a photon in a relativistic quantum loop localized by curved spacetime enables derivation of an expression for GN giving a value within the empirical uncertainty. The electron is posited as relativistic electromagnetic energy in dynamic equilibrium between circumferential metric tension at the Strong Force scale and radial electrostatic force, satisfying the Planck “Force Equality” premise. As historically long suspected GN contains a numerical factor of c4, derived from the cgs units, in which it was first measured, and a relativistic factor, α-4/3, which move the Planck scale into exact correspondence with the electron parameters. General Relativity is shown a fundamental femto-scale theory where the strong force in a metric curved at the particle scale is manifest in observer space reduced by the classical “Large Number” of 5.7x1044 and is evident as gravity. The expression obtained for GN is supported by deriving the MOND constant and the observed flat galactic star rotation velocity curves. Resolving identified erroneous assumptions and inconsistencies will significantly impact cosmology and particle physics and bring gravitational and electromagnetic unification closer.