bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sprachakrobatik und hybride Identitätskonstruktionen im Werk Herta Müllers
Authors: Μαρκούδη Χριστίνα
Published: September 2022

Η διατριβή μου με τίτλο Γλωσσική ακροβατική και υβριδικές κατασκευές ταυτοτήτων στο έργο της Herta Müller. Μια διεπιστημονική μελέτη με προτάσεις εφαρμογής για το μάθημα των Γερμανικών ως ξένη γλώσσα, αποτελείται από δύο μέρη: το πρώτο ασχολείται με την μελέτη των λογοτεχνικών κειμένων (κεφάλαια 1-5), το δεύτερο με την διδακτική της λογοτεχνίας (κεφάλαια 6-7).Αρχικά γίνεται επισκόπηση της πολύγλωσσης λογοτεχνικής παραγωγής του γερμανόφωνου χώρου και αναφορά στην δυσκολία κατηγοριοποίησης των κειμένων της Herta Müller (κ2). Ο λόγος της Müller ως «λόγος του ενδιάμεσου» αποτελεί έκφραση υβριδικών διαρθρώσεων του Εγώ (κ3). Το τέταρτο κεφάλαιο είναι αφιερωμένο στις ιδιαιτερότητες και την λειτουργία της γλώσσας ενώ ακολουθούν τα πρώτα συμπεράσματα με τα οποία τεκμηριώνεται ο χαρακτηρισμός των εν λόγω κειμένων ως διαπολιτισμική γραφή. Στο δεύτερο μέρος της εργασίας παραθέτω προτάσεις για το μάθημα των Γερμανικών ως ξένη γλώσσα, οι οποίες βασίζονται σε αποσπάσματα κειμένων της συγγραφέως (κ6). Εξετάζονται τα πλεονεκτήματα που προκύπτουν από την ενασχόληση με διαπολιτισμικά κείμενα στο πλαίσιο της «διαλεκτικής πολιτισμικής διδασκαλίας» (Diskursive Landeskunde). Παρουσιάζονται δυο διαφορετικά σενάρια για τα επίπεδα A2/A2+ και B1/B2, ενώ τα φύλλα εργασίας επισυνάπτονται. Στα τελικά συμπεράσματα της διατριβής αποδεικνύεται η χρησιμότητα των κειμένων για τον σχεδιασμό μαθημάτων, τα οποία στοχεύουν στην συνειδητοποίηση της διαπολιτισμικής καθημερινότητας.
BUILDING A PERSONAL CAREER ROUTE AS A TECHNOLOGY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Lebedeva N.
Published: September 2022

The article presents an analysis of the approaches of domestic and foreign authors to project-based learning as a technology of professional development at the stage of students' education in higher educational institutions. Project-based training is considered as a leading technology, as it is in demand by both students and employers. Using the example of the preparation and implementation of projects by bachelors in the HR field, the advantages of project training technology are revealed as a process that allows forming the competencies of project development and implementation, teamwork and leadership, effective communication and social interaction, support for group decision-making, critical and systemic thinking. It has been established that projects carried out by order and under the guidance of an employer on the current topic of professional activity form motivation for professional development among students from the first year of study. The authors describe in detail the technology of project training, the results and the product of the project "Building a personal career route" in the context of digitalization of education. The advantages of using digital tools for project management in the format of distance education are highlighted. Based on the identified advantages of project-based training, recommendations were formed for the administration of universities and students on the use of professional development technologies at the stage of preparation at the university.
THE INTERNET AS A MEANS OF SEARCHING JOBS AND STAFF
Authors: Skripnichenko L.
Published: September 2022

In order to determine the real level of interaction between applicants and employers using Internet resources within the framework of the electronic labor market, an analysis of the allocated communication channels in the labor market was carried out. It turned out that today most large companies and job seekers in the labor market resort to the use of Internet resources. Meanwhile, the study of modern realities proves that this tool is not fully disclosed in practice.

The results of the study revealed the following: companies use the capabilities of their own sites in different ways; the use of modern specialized work sites is built into the strategy of filling vacancies not by all organizations, while the functionality of the sites themselves is limited; despite the high attendance of applicants for social networks, the mechanism of using the latter as a channel of interaction in the labor market is at the formation stage.
NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR HUMAN RESOURCES IN THE INFORMATION SOCIETY
Authors: Schanina E. , Sedleckiy A.
Published: September 2022

The article is devoted to the study of new requirements for human resources in the information society. The efficiency of the modern economy is directly influenced by information databases and the creative intellectual potential of employees. Consequently, employees of organizations should have new competencies to solve modern development problems. Increasing the complexity and diversity of the services provided affects the formation of new requirements for the qualification of employees, their adaptability, mastering new knowledge and skills. Special attention is paid to the consideration of the importance of such quality as the productivity of employees. The purpose of the research presented in the article is to study the need for the formation of new qualities of employees in the information society environment. The scientific novelty of the research consists in substantiating the prerequisites for the emergence of new requirements for personnel in the conditions of the information economy and post-industrial society. The practical value of the research consists in the development of applied recommendations for improving the process of interaction between educational institutions and the labor market based on a competence-based approach and the study of new requirements for employees.
FINITE ELEMENT (FE) EVALUATION OF DYNAMIC COMBAT HELMET TRANSIENT DEFORMATION CONTACT AREA ON A HEADFORM
Authors: CAITLIN M. WEAVER CAITLIN M. , BAUMER TIMOTHY G. , FAGAN BRIAN T. , RAFAELS KARIN A.
Published: September 2022

Current ballistic helmets are designed to protect the head from penetrating threats. The compliance of composite helmet materials allows for ballistic transient deformation (BTD) of helmets that defeat a threat. These BTDs can result in a unique set of injuries known as behind-helmet blunt trauma (BHBT). Quantifying the loading behind the helmet to help understand the risk for BHBT has been challenging because the BTD occurs at high velocities with high loads that is obscured by the helmet itself. For this study, finite element (FE) simulations of a combat helmet, with and without a suspension system (i.e., pads), impacted by a ballistic threat were performed to evaluate contact area and regional force concentrations of BTD on a headform surrogate. Overall, the results indicate that the helmet pads significantly influence the contact area and magnitudes of the loading from BTD. The loading behavior differed between the front and side helmet impacts, most likely from differences in the position of the pads relative to the center of impact. Understanding the spatial and temporal evolution of loading on the head, and the components of the protection system that influence the loading is important to identify potential vulnerabilities or design strategies for combat helmets.
DIFFERENT OBTURATOR CONFIGURATIONS FOR PUSH LAUNCHED SABOTS
Authors: AYDELOTTE BRADY , FUGER WILLIAM , HIBNER PAUL , BROWN BURELL , ANGELL COLTER , JONES WARREN
Published: September 2022

In this work several different obturator designs were explored for use with a four-petal, pushlaunch sabot design for a tungsten heavy alloy projectile. Stepped-top obturators resulted in higher average pitch values than flat-topped obturators. Single piece obturators of acetal or UHMWPE appeared to provide equivalent behavior; acetal appears to be more brittle than UHMWPE, but was easier to machine to tolerance. Two-part obturators functioned reliably and were less prone to result in secondary impact on targets. Aluminum and steel pusher plates offered comparable performance for the projectile and launch velocity considered. A Garolite G-11 composite pusher plate didn’t prove strong enough to function correctly. Shots with drag flares consistently had lower pitch values than shots without drag flares.
Niewiasty z pastorałami : portrety ksień klasztoru benedyktynek ormiańskich we Lwowie: historia, konteksty, konserwacja
Authors: Zięba Andrzej A.
Published: September 2022

WOMEN WITH CROSIERS: PORTRAITS OF THE ABBESSES OF THE ARMENIAN BENEDICTINE MONASTERY IN LWÓW/LVIV: HISTORY, CONTEXTS, CONSERVATION There are two reasons why the history of the Armenian nunnery in Lwów in the Kingdom of Poland (now Lviv in Ukraine) are special. The first is the uniqueness of the forms of Armenian female monasticism, the second is the traditional role of women according to Armenian customs. Among Polish Armenians, in Kamieniec Podolski (Kamianets- Podilskyi), Jazłowiec (Yazlovets), and Lwów (Lviv), the idea of community organized by women was not easy to reconcile with the principle of male domination in family life, which was in force among Armenian immigrants to an incomparably higher degree than it was in Polish society. The first Armenian nuns in Poland were therefore completely subordinate to the authority of the elders of an ethnic commune, who even usurped the right to consent to the accession of new candidates. Even deaconesses—which the Armenian Church, unlike other Churches, retained from the times of early Christianity—did not gain an exceptional position (only two Armenian deaconesses are known from the territory of the Kingdom of Poland, both from the end of the 17th century).
Information Systems Research for Smart Sustainable Mobility: A Framework and Call for Action
Authors: Ketter Wolfgang , Schroer Karsten , Valogianni Konstantina
Published: September 2022

Transportation is a backbone of modern globalized societies. It also causes approximately one third of all European Union and U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, represents a major health hazard for global populations, and poses significant economic costs. However, rapid innovation in vehicle technology, mobile connectivity, computing hardware, and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered information systems heralds a deep socio-technical transformation of the sector. The emergence of connected, autonomous, shared, and electric (CASE) vehicle technology has created a digital layer that resides on top of the traditional physical mobility system. This article contributes a framework to direct research and practice toward leveraging the opportunities afforded by CASE for a more efficient and less environmentally problematic mobility system. The authors propose seven overarching dimensions of action. These range from designing real-time digital coordination mechanisms for the management of mobility systems to developing AI-powered real-time decision support for mobility resource planning and operations. Per each dimension, concrete angles of attack are suggested which, we hope, will spur structured engagement from both researchers and practitioners in the field.
Best of Both Worlds Ad Contracts: Guaranteed Allocation and Price with Programmatic Efficiency
Authors: Cohen Maxime C. , Désir Antoine , Korula Nitish , Sivan Balasubramanian
Published: September 2022

Buying display ad impressions via real-time auctions comes with significant allocation and price uncertainties. We design and analyze a contract that mitigates this uncertainty risk by providing guaranteed allocation and prices while maintaining the efficiency of buying in an auction. We study how risk aversion affects the desire for guarantees and how to price a guaranteed allocation. We propose to augment the traditional auction with a programmatic purchase option (which we call a Market-Maker contract) that removes allocation and price uncertainties. Instead of participating in the auction, advertisers can secure impressions in advance at a fixed premium price offered by the Market-Maker. It is then the responsibility of the Market-Maker to procure these impressions by bidding in the auction. We model buyers as risk-averse agents and analyze the equilibrium outcome when buyers face two purchase options (auction and Market-Maker contract). We derive analytical expressions for the Market-Maker price that reveal insightful relationships with uncertainties in the auction price and buyers’ risk levels. We also show the existence of a Market-Maker price that simultaneously improves the seller’s revenue and the sum of buyers’ utilities. As a building block to our analysis, we establish the truthfulness of the multiunit auction when buyers have nonquasilinear utilities because of risk aversion. Recently, the Google’s Display & Video 360 platform started offering a product akin to Market-Maker called “Guaranteed Packages,” which was inspired by this paper.

This paper was accepted by Gabriel Weintraub, revenue management and market analytics.

Funding: The authors thank Google Research for its generous support.
Solitary Cystic Mediastinal Lymphangioma: A Rare Incidental Case in an Adult Female
Authors: Aslam Hira , Kamal Anam , Khan Ali Nauman , Chaudhary Ahmed Jamal , Ismail Rana
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Lymphangiomas are rare, congenital malformations arising from lymphatic hyperplasia. More than 90% of cases are found in children under 2 years of age. Cystic lymphangiomas usually occur in the neck and axillary region and only rarely extend to the mediastinum. Case Description: We present the case of a middle-aged woman who presented with dyspnoea and productive cough. A chest x-ray showed right lower medial lung opacity, and a CT scan of the thorax showed a cystic mediastinal mass, encroaching on the superior vena cava and approaching the trachea and mainstem bronchus. An anterior thoracotomy with tumour resection was performed to relieve compression symptoms. The final pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of mediastinal lymphangioma. Discussion: Lymphangioma should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses when mediastinal widening is found on chest x-ray, and it should be investigated further with a CT scan and biopsy. Infiltration of surrounding structures can cause compression symptoms and can also make surgical resection more challenging.
Titik Kritis Halal Olahan Natural Products sebagai Bahan Aditif Pangan
Authors: Mahardika Gading Bagus , Nahara Anisa Ridha , Gunawan Setiyo
Published: September 2022

Produk alam tersedia di alam bebas dengan jumlah dan manfaat yang beragam. Industri pangan menjadi industri dengan kebutuhan terbesar yang dibutuhkan oleh masyarakat. Beberapa bahan tambahan pangan yang diambil dari produk alam sering ditambahkan dalam proses pengolahan untuk membentuk cita rasa nikmat dan menarik konsumen. Titik kritis halal sangat penting diperhatikan dalam mengolah makanan dengan meninjau tujuan penambahan bahan pangan, sumber bahan tambahan pangan tersebut, dan cara pengolahan bahan tambahan pangan. Pada artikel ini mengulas dan mempelajari kandungan dari natural product yang meliputi antioksidan, oleoresin, pewarna, dan seasoning; memilah dan memilih potensi kandungan bahan haram yang ada dalam bahan-bahan tersebut; hingga mampu mempertimbangkan solusi substitusi bahan haram. Halal menjadi sebuah keharusan dalam produk makanan di Indonesia dan diatur dalam peraturan perundang-undangan untuk melindungi umat muslim yang wajib makan makanan halal. Bahan-bahan makanan pun juga harus dijamin kehalalannya supaya produk akhir dapat diberi label halal. Penelitian lebih lanjut diperlukan apabila muncul potensi penggunaan barang non-halal untuk produk-produk bahan alam tersebut. Olahan produk alami meliputi antioksidan, oleoresin, pewarna, dan seasoning memiliki titik kritis masing-masing. Titik kritis kehalalan bahan tambahan pangan dapat ditinjau berdasarkan tujuan pemakaiannya, sumber bahan bakunya, dan cara pengolahannya.
A Study on the Quality Characteristics and Antioxidant Activities of Fruit and Vegetable Jellies Mixed with Boswellia
Authors: Jung Yen-Hee , Ahn Sun-Choung
Published: September 2022

This study examined the quality characteristics and antioxidant properties of fruit and vegetable jellies mixed with Boswellia. Jellies were prepared with 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8% Boswellia, sugar and konjac. As a result, the pH of Boswellia jellies decreased to 5.19, 5.05, 4.94, and 4.84, respectively (p<0.001). Their L-value, a-value, b-value, and hardness increased significantly with increasing levels of added Boswellia (p<0.001), while individual phenolic compounds increased significantly with increasing levels of added Boswellia. Free sugars and organic acid contents had the highest bw10. The total phenolic compounds had the highest BW5 (112.9 mg TAE/g), BW10 (99.41 mg TAE/ g), and while the ABTS activities showed higher values than the control group. Overall, Boswellia can be used to produce high-quality jelly, which is expected to help develop excellent functional jelly products.
Antioxidant and Glucose-Regulating Enzyme Activities of Red Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) Extract
Authors: Choi Mun Hee , Kim Myung Hyun , Han Young Sil
Published: September 2022

The study investigated the chemical components, antioxidant activities, and glucose-regulating enzyme activities of red chicory (Cichorium intybus L.). On a dry weight the contents of moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, crude fiber, and carbohydrate were 7.36, 28.0, 4.33, 19.63, 10.84 and 40.52%. The contents of mineral were Na (772.39 mg/100 g), K (5,686.03 mg/100 g), Mg (307.48 mg/100 g), Ca (804.94 mg/100 g), Fe (8.61 mg/100 g), and P (1,145.24 mg/100 g). Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll (793.80, 363.06, 1,156.86 mg/100 g,), total carotenoid (171.82 mg/100 g), and anthocyanin (79.49 mg/100 g) contents were measured. Antioxidant activities were analyzed for water and 70% ethanol extract. The polyphenol contents 23.67, 32.58 GAE mg/g, and flavonoid contents were 18.15, 28.76 RE mg/g, respectively. The DPPH scavenging activity IC50 was 694.48, 76.12, μg/mL, and the ABTS scavenging activity IC50 1,154.90, 566.00 μg/mL, respectively. In reducing power, the 70% ethanol extract showed a higher reducing power. In α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition activity IC50, the 70% ethanol extract (5.87, 17.91 mg/mL, respectively) showed a higher than water extract (8.87, 100 < mg/mL, respectively). This study is expected to provide basic data for developing functional food ingredients for red chicory.
Spatially multiplexed femtosecond/picosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering for multipoint array measurements
Authors: Braun Erik L. , Slipchenko Mikhail N. , Roy Sukesh , Meyer Terrence R.
Published: September 2022

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, method for multipoint hybrid femtosecond/picosecond rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering measurements is presented. The pump/Stokes and probe beams are each split into 16 discrete points with 90 and 24 µJ/pulse, respectively, using simple diffractive optical elements, which are used in combination with a focusing lens and narrowband spectral amplifier for 1 kHz excitation along a linear array of probe volumes. Single-shot and averaged temperature and O2/N2 profile measurements are demonstrated along a line with 1 mm spacing in room temperature and heated N2 flows. This enables measurements over varying spatial extents for 1D profiles and potentially 2D grids in a simple and compact optical arrangement.
Film structure and optical characteristics of a-Si:H prepared with a rotary table type layer-by-layer sputtering method for application in short-wave near-infrared filters
Authors: Kawamata Yoshio , Ono Daisuke , Ito Hiroshi , Nikkuni Hiroyuki , Ito Mikio
Published: September 2022

The structure and optical properties of a hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) film for a short-wave near-infrared bandpass filter (BPF), fabricated using the rotary table type layer-by-layer (LbL) sputtering method, were evaluated. Although the extinction coefficient k tended to increase as the film thickness per cycle increased, the bonded hydrogen composition increased owing to an increase in the hydrogen partial pressure of the reactive plasma area, thereby decreasing k to 1 × 10−3 or less. Meanwhile, the occurrence of (Si–H2)n bonds was suppressed. Consequently, in contrast to reactive sputtering, it was found that the a-Si:H achieved via LbL sputtering has a high refractive index, low absorption characteristics, and high thermal durability suitable for BPFs, due to the chemical annealing effect.
Superfast and large-depth-range sinusoidal fringe generation for multi-dimensional information sensing
Authors: Zhu Sijie , Wu Zhoujie , Zhang Jing , Zhang Qican , Wang Yajun
Published: September 2022

Among many multi-dimensional information sensing methods such as structured-light and single-pixel imaging technologies, sinusoidal fringe generation is general and crucial. Current methods of sinusoidal fringe generation force concessions in either the speed or the depth range. To mitigate this trade-off, we have simultaneously achieved both speed breakthrough and depth range enhancement by improving both the optical projection system and binary coding algorithm based on an off-the-shelf projector. Specifically, we propose a multifocal projection system and oblique projection method, which essentially eliminates the existence of a single focal plane in the conventional axisymmetric system and utilizes its anisotropy characteristics to achieve a superior filtering effect. Furthermore, the optimal pulse width modulation technique is introduced to modulate the square binary pattern for eliminating specific harmonics. To the best of our knowledge, the proposed method, for the first time, simultaneously achieved superfast (9524 frames per second) and large-depth-range (560 mm, about three times that of the conventional method) sinusoidal fringe generation with consistently high accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method in multi-dimensional information sensing such as 3D, 4D, and [

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On the incongruence of genotype-phenotype and fitness landscapes
Authors: Srivastava Malvika , Payne Joshua L.
Published: September 2022

The mapping from genotype to phenotype to fitness typically involves multiple nonlinearities that can transform the effects of mutations. For example, mutations may contribute additively to a phenotype, but their effects on fitness may combine non-additively because selection favors a low or intermediate value of that phenotype. This can cause incongruence between the topographical properties of a fitness landscape and its underlying genotype-phenotype landscape. Yet, genotype-phenotype landscapes are often used as a proxy for fitness landscapes to study the dynamics and predictability of evolution. Here, we use theoretical models and empirical data on transcription factor-DNA interactions to systematically study the incongruence of genotype-phenotype and fitness landscapes when selection favors a low or intermediate phenotypic value. Using the theoretical models, we prove a number of fundamental results. For example, selection for low or intermediate phenotypic values does not change simple sign epistasis into reciprocal sign epistasis, implying that genotype-phenotype landscapes with only simple sign epistasis motifs will always give rise to single-peaked fitness landscapes under such selection. More broadly, we show that such selection tends to create fitness landscapes that are more rugged than the underlying genotype-phenotype landscape, but this increased ruggedness typically does not frustrate adaptive evolution because the local adaptive peaks in the fitness landscape tend to be nearly as tall as the global peak. Many of these results carry forward to the empirical genotype-phenotype landscapes, which may help to explain why low- and intermediate-affinity transcription factor-DNA interactions are so prevalent in eukaryotic gene regulation.
SAUR63 stimulates cell growth at the plasma membrane
Authors: Nagpal Punita , Reeves Paul H. , Wong Jeh Haur , Armengot Laia , Chae Keun , Rieveschl Nathaniel B. , Trinidad Brendan , Davidsdottir Vala , Jain Prateek , Gray William M. , Jaillais Yvon , Reed Jason W.
Published: September 2022

In plants, regulated cell expansion determines organ size and shape. Several members of the family of redundantly acting Small Auxin Up RNA (SAUR) proteins can stimulate plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPase proton pumping activity by inhibiting PM-associated PP2C.D phosphatases, thereby increasing the PM electrochemical potential, acidifying the apoplast, and stimulating cell expansion. Similarly, Arabidopsis thaliana SAUR63 was able to increase growth of various organs, antagonize PP2C.D5 phosphatase, and increase H+-ATPase activity. Using a gain-of-function approach to bypass genetic redundancy, we dissected structural requirements for SAUR63 growth-promoting activity. The divergent N-terminal domain of SAUR63 has a predicted basic amphipathic α-helix and was able to drive partial PM association. Deletion of the N-terminal domain decreased PM association of a SAUR63 fusion protein, as well as decreasing protein level and eliminating growth-promoting activity. Conversely, forced PM association restored ability to promote H+-ATPase activity and cell expansion, indicating that SAUR63 is active when PM-associated. Lipid binding assays and perturbations of PM lipid composition indicate that the N-terminal domain can interact with PM anionic lipids. Mutations in the conserved SAUR domain also reduced PM association in root cells. Thus, both the N-terminal domain and the SAUR domain may cooperatively mediate the SAUR63 PM association required to promote growth.
High-throughput sequencing of EcoWI restriction fragments maps the genome-wide landscape of phosphorothioate modification at base resolution
Authors: Yang Weiwei , Fomenkov Alexey , Heiter Dan , Xu Shuang-yong , Ettwiller Laurence
Published: September 2022

Phosphorothioation (PT), in which a non-bridging oxygen is replaced by a sulfur, is one of the rare modifications discovered in bacteria and archaea that occurs on the sugar-phosphate backbone as opposed to the nucleobase moiety of DNA. While PT modification is widespread in the prokaryotic kingdom, how PT modifications are distributed in the genomes and their exact roles in the cell remain to be defined. In this study, we developed a simple and convenient technique called EcoWI-seq based on a modification-dependent restriction endonuclease to identify genomic positions of PT modifications. EcoWI-seq shows similar performance than other PT modification detection techniques and additionally, is easily scalable while requiring little starting material. As a proof of principle, we applied EcoWI-seq to map the PT modifications at base resolution in the genomes of both the Salmonella enterica cerro 87 and E. coli expressing the dnd+ gene cluster. Specifically, we address whether the partial establishment of modified PT positions is a stochastic or deterministic process. EcoWI-seq reveals a systematic usage of the same subset of target sites in clones for which the PT modification has been independently established.
Comparing the effectiveness and safety of Abatacept and Tocilizumab in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Temmoku Jumpei , Miyata Masayuki , Suzuki Eiji , Sumichika Yuya , Saito Kenji , Yoshida Shuhei , Matsumoto Haruki , Fujita Yuya , Matsuoka Naoki , Asano Tomoyuki , Sato Shuzo , Watanabe Hiroshi , Migita Kiyoshi
Published: September 2022

Background

The number of biological DMARDs (bDMARDs) used in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has increased in recent years. We aimed to compare the drug retention rates and safety of abatacept (ABT) and tocilizumab (TCZ) in elderly patients with RA.

Methods

A total 125 elderly patients with RA (>65 years) who began therapy with either ABT (n = 47) or TCZ (n = 78) between 2014 and 2021 at our institute were enrolled. We compared the drug retention rate and clinical response at 24 weeks between elderly patients with RA treated with ABT and those treated with TCZ. Adverse events (AEs) and the reasons for drug discontinuation were assessed.

Results

There was no significant difference in demographic characteristics except for the use of glucocorticoid between the ABT and TCZ groups. There was no significant difference in the drug retention rate between the ABT and TCZ groups. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the discontinuation rates due to the lack of effectiveness between these two groups. The proportions of the patients archiving low disease activity at 24 weeks did not differ significantly between the two groups. Whereas, the discontinuation rates due to AEs, including interstitial lung disease (ILD), seemed higher in the TCZ group than in the ABT group. In TCZ-treated group, the concomitant use of methotrexate (MTX) significantly increased the incidences of AEs leading to the discontinuation of TCZ. Whereas these was no significant impact of concomitant use of MTX on the incidences of AEs leading to discontinuation in ABT-treated group.

Conclusions

In elderly patients with RA treated with ABT and TCZ, drug retention rates were equivalent between the two groups. There were some differences in safety profiles between ABT and TCZ, and the rates of discontinuation due to AEs, including ILD, seem to be lower with ABT than with TCZ in elderly patients with RA.
On the interplay of temporal resolution power and spatial suppression in their prediction of psychometric intelligence
Authors: Makowski Lisa M. , Rammsayer Thomas H. , Tadin Duje , Thomas Philipp , Troche Stefan J.
Published: September 2022

As a measure of the brain’s temporal fine-tuning capacity, temporal resolution power (TRP) explained repeatedly a substantial amount of variance in psychometric intelligence. Recently, spatial suppression, referred to as the increasing difficulty in quickly perceiving motion direction as the size of the moving stimulus increases, has attracted particular attention, when it was found to be positively related to psychometric intelligence. Due to the conceptual similarities of TRP and spatial suppression, the present study investigated their mutual interplay in the relation to psychometric intelligence in 273 young adults to better understand the reasons for these relationships. As in previous studies, psychometric intelligence was positively related to a latent variable representing TRP but, in contrast to previous reports, negatively to latent and manifest measures of spatial suppression. In a combined structural equation model, TRP still explained a substantial amount of variance in psychometric intelligence while the negative relation between spatial suppression and intelligence was completely explained by TRP. Thus, our findings confirmed TRP to be a robust predictor of psychometric intelligence but challenged the assumption of spatial suppression as a representation of general information processing efficiency as reflected in psychometric intelligence. Possible reasons for the contradictory findings on the relation between spatial suppression and psychometric intelligence are discussed.
Impacts on insulation resistance of thin film modules: A case study of a flooding of a photovoltaic power plant in Thailand
Authors: Ketjoy Nipon , Mensin Pornthip , Chamsa-ard Wisut
Published: September 2022

Effects of high humid weather conditions on photovoltaic (PV) modules were examined in this study, particularly insulation resistance. Three types of tests were conducted which include leakage voltage test, leakage current test, and wet leakage current test. Due to the usual field constraints in the study of insulation resistance, which limited measurements of leakage current, assurance was made that representative sampling were conducted. The study found a high number of modules with low insulation resistance and high leakage voltage values, which can interrupt the PV plant operation. High leakage voltage creates safety hazards issues. About two third of the samples, which showed deep moisture ingress in the modules, could not pass the minimum criterion of IEC 61646 standard for wet insulation resistance testing. The leakage current results showed the same trend as of leakage voltage, proving that leakage voltage test, which is quite easy and economical, can be used to detect such type of problems in field tests. Prolonged humidity conditions of the PV power plant particularly from natural disaster, should be avoided. Efficient drainage system should be supported in and around installations and all other moisture sources should be regularly removed from the plant area to keep proper operation and minimize losses in energy production.
Bioequivalence of micronutrient powders to Corn-soy Blend on serum zinc concentration of children (6–36 months) with Moderate Acute Malnutrition in Thika urban slums, Kenya: A cluster-randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kiio Juliana , Ochola Sophie , Nduati Ruth , Kuria Elizabeth , Mathenge Scholastica , Okoth Judith
Published: September 2022

Zinc deficiency is common among children with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and contributes to growth failure, increased morbidity and mortality. Diarrhoea and poor dietary practices are the main causes of zinc deficiency. Corn-soy Blend (CSB), the standard product in management of children with MAM has a limitation of poor micronutrient bioavailability. Micronutrient powders (MNPs) which are added at the point of consumption have a potential in improving micronutrient status however, scientific evidence on efficacy on improving the zinc status is scarce. A cluster-randomized clinical trial was designed to establish bioequivalence of MNPs to CSB on serum zinc status among children (6–36 months) with MAM in Thika informal settlements, Kenya. Sample size was calculated to show bioequivalence within ±20% limit. Twelve villages were randomized to four study groups. Three experimental groups received different formulations of MNPs added to unfortified CSB porridge as; multiple micronutrients containing zinc (CSB-MNP-A n = 84), multiple micronutrients without zinc (CSB-MNP-B n = 88) and zinc only (CSB-MNP-C n = 94). Control group (n = 80) received standard CSB fortified with multiple micronutrients. Standard amount of CSB was consumed in feeding centres for six months. Serum zinc concentration was assessed pre- and post-intervention. Data was analyzed based on treatment assignment regardless of adherence and drop-out status. Mixed effects linear regression was used to model pre-post change in serum zinc concentration, adjusting for clustering effect and baseline differences. Bioequivalence was assessed using two one-sided t-tests. At baseline, 84.4% were zinc deficient (serum zinc <65μg/dL) and zinc intake was sub-optimal (<3 mg/day) for 95.7% of children. Mean change in serum zinc concentration was significantly higher (p = 0.024) in CSB-MNP-A (18.7 ± 2.1) μg/dL compared to control group (11.8 ± 2.6 μg/dL). MNPs are not bioequivalent to CSB within the ±20% bioequivalence limit. MNPs are more effective in improving serum zinc status compared to CSB. Trials with larger sample sizes are recommended to validate the current findings.

Trial registration: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry: PACTR201907492232376.
Characterization of dengue virus 3’UTR RNA binding proteins in mosquitoes reveals that AeStaufen reduces subgenomic flaviviral RNA in saliva
Authors: Yeh Shih-Chia , Diosa-Toro Mayra , Tan Wei-Lian , Rachenne Florian , Hain Arthur , Yeo Celestia Pei Xuan , Bribes Inès , Xiang Benjamin Wong Wei , Sathiamoorthy Kannan Gayathiri , Manuel Menchie Casayuran , Missé Dorothée , Mok Yu Keung , Pompon Julien
Published: September 2022

Dengue viruses (DENV) are expanding global pathogens that are transmitted through the bite of mosquitoes, mostly Aedes aegypti. As RNA viruses, DENV rely on RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) to complete their life cycle. Alternatively, RBPs can act as restriction factors that prevent DENV multiplication. While the importance of RBPs is well-supported in humans, there is a dearth of information about their influence on DENV transmission by mosquitoes. Such knowledge could be harnessed to design novel, effective interventions against DENV. Here, we successfully adapted RNA-affinity chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry–a technique initially developed in mammalian cells–to identify RBPs in Ae. aegypti cells. We identified fourteen RBPs interacting with DENV serotype 2 3’UTR, which is involved in the viral multiplication and produces subgenomic flaviviral RNA (sfRNA). We validated the RNA affinity results for two RBPs by confirming that AePur binds the 3’UTR, whereas AeStaufen interacts with both 3’UTR and sfRNA. Using in vivo functional evaluation, we determined that RBPs like AeRan, AeExoRNase, and AeRNase have pro-viral functions, whereas AeGTPase, AeAtu, and AePur have anti-viral functions in mosquitoes. Furthermore, we showed that human and mosquito Pur homologs have a shared affinity to DENV2 RNA, although the anti-viral effect is specific to the mosquito protein. Importantly, we revealed that AeStaufen mediates a reduction of gRNA and sfRNA copies in several mosquito tissues, including the salivary glands and that AeStaufen-mediated sfRNA reduction diminishes the concentration of transmission-enhancing sfRNA in saliva, thereby revealing AeStaufen’s role in DENV transmission. By characterizing the first RBPs that associate with DENV2 3’UTR in mosquitoes, our study unravels new pro- and anti-viral targets for the design of novel therapeutic interventions as well as provides foundation for studying the role of RBPs in virus-vector interactions.
The grammar of violence of subalternized women: Three examples of contemporary African films
Authors: Ferreira Carolin Overhoff , Lingna Nafafe José
Published: September 2022

This text studies three contemporary African films that look at the westernized patriarchal societies in Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Senegal. The female main characters in the Senegalese Madame Brouette (2002), by Moussa Sène Absa, the Burkinabe Frontières (Borders) (2017), by Apolline Traoré, and the Nigerian The Ghost and the House of Truth (2019), by Akin Omotoso, all face economic and gender subalternization and end up being involved in violence in order to confront it. So as to use an appropriate methodology, we first argue that African film is multilingual, as much linguistically as in terms of cinematic grammar. In order to understand how the female characters navigate their subalternized roles in narratives that look at their subjugation, we then analyse each film regarding the ways how they try, mostly unsuccessfully, to affirm their subjectivity and which multilingual cinematographic grammars are used for this.
Voicing ordinary people and everyday narratives through participatory cinema
Authors: Ambala A. Terah
Published: September 2022

This practice-led participatory study seeks to probe the extent to which ordinary people, in their everyday spaces, and whose voices are absent or co-opted in ‘traditional’ cinema, can actively participate in narrating their stories through short films. The project, titled Utaifa, entailed working with a focus group of eleven members of the Abakuria community in Kenya, over eight days, to prod-use three shorts. It relies of Homi Bhabha’s cultural difference ideas, Nico Carpentier’s maximalist media participation theory and conceptual discourses on self-representations. The article has three broad sections. The first offers insight into the Utaifa participants discussing their three shorts. The second unpacks the study’s rationale discussing opportunities presented by access to digital platforms, gender dynamics in marginalized communities, dominance by media elites in representations, ubiquity of grand narratives at the expense of self-representations and the language question. The third section delves into the study’s important insights and lessons.
A „zöldülés” korlátai magánbefektetők szemszögéből
Authors: Bauerné Gáthy Andrea , Lukács Bence
Published: September 2022

A klímavédelem kérdése nem tűr halasztást. A társadalom minden egyes
szereplőjére szükség van a globális felmelegedés elleni küzdelemben. Ehhez
kiváló lehetőséget biztosíthat az egyre népszerűbb zöld kötvény. A
tanulmány magánbefektetői szemszögből hívja fel a figyelmet a zöld
kötvénypiac által kínált lehetőségekre, valamint a piac hiányosságaira
primer, illetve szekunder adatgyűjtés segítségével, végezetül javaslatot
fogalmaz meg a problémák megoldására. Bemutatásra kerül maga a zöld
kötvénypiac, a zöld értékpapírt jegyzők csoportjai, illetve a különféle
piaci fejlődést akadályozó tényezők, mint a kötvény ismeretének a hiánya, a
kötvény bizonytalan hozamkínálata, a sztenderdek, definíciók hiánya, a
greenwashing, illetve a korlátozott transzparencia. Fókuszcsoportos interjú
során a 6 csoport összesen 42 résztvevőjéből csupán 5 válaszadó hallott az
interjút megelőzően a zöld értékpapír létezéséről. A résztvevők a
greenwashingtól való félelmet, a kötvények alacsonyabb hozamát például a
MÁP+ értékpapírhoz képest, illetve a megtakarításuk hiányát említették
legnagyobb ellenérvként, mint befektetésüket akadályozó tényezőt. Ahhoz,
hogy a zöld értékpapír a jövőben az átlagos lakossági befektetők körében
népszerűvé válhasson, elengedhetetlen elsősorban magának a kötvény
létezésének, pozitív környezeti, gazdasági és társadalmi hosszú távú
hatásának a promotálása, valamint a magasabb hozamok kínálata, illetve
globális törvények, sztenderdek megalkotása, amely biztosíthatja a
megfelelő transzparenciát.
Kollaboratív robotok ipari alkalmazása
Authors: Kóczi Dávid , Sárosi József
Published: September 2022

Az emberek és a robotok közötti együttműködésre már az első ipari
robotkarok megjelenése óta igény jelentkezik. Ennek az együttműködésnek
számos fizikai, jogszabályi, illetve szabványi feltétele van. Ebben a
cikkben bemutatásra kerül milyen arányban használják az iparban az
együttműködő robotkarokat, továbbá leírja milyen formái léteznek az ilyen
jellegű ember-gép kapcsolatnak. Megvizsgálja, hogy mely szabályozásoknak
kell megfelelnie a kollaboratív robot biztonságos és szabványos tervezése
és üzemeltetése esetén, alapul véve az “ISO/TS 15066 Robotok és
robotszerkezetek. Kollaboratív robotok” technikai specifikációt. Ezt
követően alkalmazási példákon keresztül kerülnek bemutatásra különböző
megoldások, esettanulmányok. Végezetül értékelésre kerül milyen lehetséges
irányok mutatkoznak az ember-robot együttműködés során, figyelembevéve az
átalakulóban lévő „2006/42/EK” Gépdirektívát.
A családi állapot és a férfi vezetői szerepek kapcsolatának a
vizsgálata
Authors: Kőműves Zsolt , Szabó Szilvia , Szabó-Szentgróti Gábor , Hollósy-Vadász Gábor
Published: September 2022

Jelen tanulmányunk egy korábbi cikkünk (Kőműves et al., 2022)
folytatása. Ebben a publikációban a családi állapot és a férfi vezetői
szerepek kapcsolatát vizsgáljuk. A kutatási kérdésünk: a családi állapot
alapján a férfi vezetők vajon különböznek-e a vezetői szerepeik
megítélésében? A mintavétel hólabda módszerrel történt, a válaszadók száma
212 fő, így a minta nem tekinthető reprezentatívnak, a levont
következtetések nem generalizálhatóak, csak az adott mintán tekinthetők
validnak. Kutatási kérdéseink igazolásához ANOVA-t, LSD post hoc tesztet és
Khínégyzet próbát alkalmaztunk. A vizsgálati kérdésünkre a válasz, hogy a
férfi vezetők a családi állapot függvényében különböznek a vezetői
szerepeik megítélésében. A kérdések verifikálása alapján kijelenthetjük,
hogy: a családi állapot meghatározza, hogy a válaszadók mely vezetői
tényezőket tartják fontosnak a vezetői sikeresség megítélése tekintetében.
A családi állapot alapján a válaszadók eltérően ítélik meg a családi élet
és a sikeres vezetői szerep összeegyeztethetőségét. A kutatómunkát a
jövőben szeretnénk folytatni annak a vizsgálatával, hogy a férfiak és a nők
esetében a családi állapot eltérően hat-e a vezetési szerepekkel
kapcsolatos attitűdökre.
Előzetes vizsgálatok a tehéntej fogyasztási szokások körében különös
tekintettel a csomagolásra
Authors: Ruzsa Dzsenifer Mária , Bodnár Károly
Published: September 2022

A tanulmányban a fogyasztói véleményeket vizsgálták, különös
tekintettel a termelői nyers tej kedveltségére, és a tej csomagolására. A
vizsgálat adatgyűjtését egy online kérdőív segítette, a begyűjtött adatok
(n=270) IBM SPSS STATISTICS version 20 szoftver alkalmazásával került
feldolgozásra. A válaszadók többsége a csomagolás praktikusságát veszi
figyelembe leginkább, így annak kialakítása a termékválasztás fontos
szempontja.
Kinetic Modeling of Peroxydisulfate Pre-Treatment of Algae Slurry (Pasir Gudang, Malaysia)
for Increasing Methane Generation from Anaerobic Digestion: Fertilizer Recovery
Authors: Siddique Md. Nurul Islam , Zaied B.K. , Bin Ibrahim Mohd. Zamri , Wan Nik W.B. , Ali Noraaini Binti , Rasit Nazaitul Shila
Published: September 2022

This study looked into the possibility of using peroxydisulfate pretreatment to enhance biogas production
from anaerobic fermentation of algal slurry. The results demonstrate that a peroxydisulfate added
system with a dose of 0.02 g peroxydisulfate/g algal sludge TSS produces the most accumulative
methane after 61 days of fermentation. At 0.02, 0.03, 0.06, 0.2, 0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 g peroxydisulfate/g
algal sludge TSS cumulative methane generation was 1.16, 1.09, 1.15, 1.14, 1.09, 0.77, and 0.16 times
higher than control. After 120 minutes of pre-treatment, the SCOD in the system continued to rise
when the peroxydisulfate dosage was enhanced. To simulate the methane yield, a one-substrate model
might be utilized. After dosing with peroxydisulfate, the hydrolysis rate reduced, and the maximum
resultant and anticipated cumulative methane output was achieved with 0.02 g peroxydisulfate/g algal
sludge TSS. After digestion, microcystin-LR in algae slurry was mostly eliminated. Heavy metals
could be released from algae cells into the effluent as a result of the greater peroxydisulfate dosage.
From the fermented effluent, sludge recapture was 0.09 m3 sludge/m3. The supplementation of
peroxydisulfate to algae slurry may boost cumulative methane generation while also lowering
microcystin-LR levels.
Kinetic Study for Chemoselective Hydrogenation of Benzoic Acid to
Benzyl Alcohol in a Batch Slurry Reactor using Ru-Sn/Al2O3 Catalyst
Authors: Shinde Sunil B. , Deshpande Raj M.
Published: September 2022

Chemoselective hydrogenation of benzoic acid was carried out using Ru-Sn/Al2O3 catalyst at
temperature and hydrogen pressure range of 473-513 K and 3.8-8.8 MPa, respectively. The Sn/Ru
ratio in Ru-Sn/Al2O3 catalyst was 5. The initial rates for multiphasic hydrogenation reaction were
observed to be first order with respect to catalyst loading, hydrogen partial pressure and benzoic acid.
The initial rate data obtained were fitted to different rate equations based on Langmuir-Hinshelwood
(L-H) type model and a rate model was obtained which predicted the rate of reaction with an error less
than ± 5%. Rate model suggests two different type of active site on Ru-Sn/Al2O3 catalyst for
hydrogenation of benzoic acid. The activation energy for hydrogenation of benzoic acid to benzyl
alcohol using Ru-Sn/Al2O3 was found to be 81.64 kJ/mol.
ADME Analysis of Crude Extracts of Exacum bicolor Roxb. and in vitro
Screening for Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxicity Assays
Authors: Achar S.S. , Pethakamsetty L. , Pathan A.A. , Parine N.R. , Vinjamuri S.
Published: September 2022

With the increase in medical pandemics caused by emerging and re-emerging microbial pathogens,
topping multi drug resistance, there is always a dire requirement for the novel drugs to treat diseases.
In view of the imperative need for lead molecules addressing ailments, the authors have extended their
phytochemical studies on the crude extracts of Exacum bicolor Roxb, to in silico ADME analysis
followed by in vitro screening for biological activities. In present study, the crude extracts of E. bicolor
are subjected to GC-MS analysis and a total of 32 phytoconstituents were identified and considered
for ADME analysis by Swiss ADME software. This study represents the first-time reports on the in
silico screening of the plant extracts of Exacum bicolor. Further preliminary screening of the crude
extracts displayed moderate antioxidant, cytotoxic, antibacterial and antifungal properties, which might
be due to the presence of phenolic and alkaloid derivatives.