bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of Omnibus Law on the Legal Politics of the Indonesian Government in Using Foreign Workers
Authors: Woeryono B.
Published: December 2020

The Employment Law Cluster in the field of foreign workers, as summarized in the Employment Creation Law, as a result of the Omnibus Law method, is very important to implement because the existing regulations have become chronically obese, obese rules but many hinder investment, so that development and progress of the Indonesian state is hampered, even though Indonesia has declared that it is part of the ASEAN Economic Community (MEA) and is on the line of the 4.0 Industrial Revolution.
Kada Knjiga kupcu govori kako kupac knjigu treba čitati
Authors: Potočnjak Saša
Published: December 2020

Knjiga propovijedi Manus Christi amoris Franje Glavinića (1585. – 1652.)
objavljena je u Veneciji 1625. u izdanju Ivana Salisa. Knjiga se sastoji od pet dijelova kojima prethodi više pjesama Glavinićevih suvremenika: Lucido Mancinelli, Sonetto, Simpliciano da Fiume, Sonetto, Rafael Levaković, Knjiga kupcu govori, Kandid Barbarić, Epigramma te Giovanni Vito Zanchi da Fiume, Madrigale. Dva su pjesnika, Lucido Mancinelli i Rafael Levaković, četrnaest godina poslije objavila također
panegiričke pjesničke sastavke, ali u izdanju djela koje je izišlo nakon smrti njegova autora. Riječ je o dosad slabo poznatom drugom izdanju Vazetja Sigeta grada Barne Karnarutića, koje je otisnuto u Veneciji kod Bartolomea Ginammija 1639. godine. Zasad jedini poznati sačuvani primjerak nalazi se u Bibliothèque nationale de France u Parizu.

I dok je u Glavinićevu djelu funkcija takvih retoričkih umetaka panegirička (pohvala autora Glavinića), odnosno pragmatična (uvjeriti čitatelja da kupi Glavinićevu knjigu), ali bez jasnijega izvanknjiževnoga konteksta, u slučaju je posmrtnoga Karnarutićeva izdanja riječ o društveno-politički angažiranom pjesništvu s ciljem promicanja protureformacijskih ideja te u kontekstu sve intenzivnijega franjevačkog djelovanja.
Pedagogy workshops for promoting prosocial behaviour among students
Authors: Bičanić Dajana , Brust Nemet Maja
Published: December 2020

Prosocial behaviour refers to intentional behaviour aimed at helping others or having a positive influence on others. A community to which a child belongs plays a great role in developing prosocial behaviour. Therefore, great attention should be about the development of the prosocial behaviour in the classroom, which will fully contribute to the
student's empathy development, active listening skills, being able to work collaboratively, being able to resolve conflict constructively and self-esteem development as well as self-confidence development. Pedagogical workshops can contribute to a better understanding of a child’s personality. According to that, their focus is on the actual process whose purpose is to provide each participant with the feeling of
equality and belonging.

The aim of this paper was to investigate whether pedagogical workshops encourage prosocial behaviour in students. The study was conducted during March 2019 and included methodological triangulation (participatory observation, sociometric test and interview) among students of one class departments in a rural area of Slavonia, Croatia. The results of the qualitative research showed that pedagogical workshops provide the conditions necessary to encourage prosocial behaviour in students. Also, the research showed that pedagogical workshops are related to the strengthening of social relations within the group and that certain activities are related to the student's development of empathy, self-confidence and constructive conflict resolution.
The importance of the promotion of university sport on the faculty level – case analysis
Authors: Galić Tvrtko , Ćurić Mijo , Biloš Antun
Published: December 2020

The ways of informing students about the activities which are organized on a faculty or university level daily present an increasing challenge. The very aim of this work is to analyze and compare ways of informing students of the Faculty of Education about the sport activities on the faculty and university level. The way of informing students about the activities will be compared with the ways of informing about general sport activities in order to identify possible deviation from two different types of activities. Promotion being one of the marketing elements, so is the appliance of adequate promotion tools very important
in all social processes. Numerous examples, especially in sport, proved
that the activities of the sport participants will not be successful without the adequate use of promotion. University sport in developed countries surely occupies an important place in the academic community; from that point of view it is very important to determine the way of managing the university sport. The university sport in the Republic of Croatia is becoming more significant element of students' activities every day, and the promotion contributes to that. Apart from comparing the ways of informing about sport and regular activities, this paper will provide the time comparison of the mentioned researches between 2014 and 2020.

The comparison of the same data with the time lag will provide the best picture of the changes in the ways of informing in a 6-year-period. The obtained results have shown that even after six years, students continue
to prefer certain communication channels, i.e. they remain primary.
Model Characterization of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Analysis of Lung Pathology with Respect to Human Disease
Authors:   , lambu Eptisam
Published: December 2020

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare multifactorial disease characterized by abnormal high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, or increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), caused by obstruction in the small arteries of the lung. Increased PVR is also thought to be caused by abnormal vascular remodeling, due to thickening of the pulmonary vascular wall resulting from significant hypertrophy of pulmonary arterial smooth-muscle cells (PASMCs) and increased proliferation/impaired apoptosis of pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAECs). Herein, we investigated the mechanisms and explored molecular pathways mediating the lung pathogenesis in two PAH rat models: Monocrotaline (MCT) and Sugen5416/Hypoxia (SuHx). We analyzed these disease models to determine where the vasculature shows the most severe PAH pathology and which model best recapitulates the human disease. We investigated the role vascular remodeling, hypoxia, cell proliferation, apoptosis, DNA damage and inflammation play in the pathogenesis of PAH. Neither model recapitulated all features of the human disease, however each model presented with some of the pathology seen in PAH patients.
Sosialisasi Syarat Kecakapan Khusus Sosialisasi Syarat Kecakapan Khusus (SKK) Krida Bina Obat Kepada Anggota Saka Bakti Husada (SBH) Di Jawa Timur
Authors: Nurul Jannatul Firdausi  , Ferdani Ayu Ferdani , Fadhilah Yusnita Nur Fadhilah , Wardani Susilo Ari Wardani
Published: December 2020

Saka Bakti Husada (SBH) merupakan salah satu bentuk Upaya Kesehatan Bersumberdaya Masyarakat (UKBM) untuk membantu menyelesaikan masalah kesehatan. Permasalahan kefarmasian dapat berkontribusi menyebabkan masalah kesehatan masyarakat. Melalui Krida Obat diharapkan anggota SBH untuk meningkatkan keterampilan dan kompetensi bidang kefarmasian.. Tujuan kegiatan ini  adalah memberikan pembaharuan informasi dan meningkatkan pengetahuan tentang bina obat kepada anggota SBH di Jawa Timur.  Pelaksanaan kegiatan dilakukan melalui sosialisasi secara online/daring. Keberhasilan diukur melalui pre-test dan post-test. Sebanyak 141 peserta hadir berasal dari 29 Kab/Kota. Pengetahuan terendah dari hasil pre-test terkait SKK Pemilihan Pangan dan SKK Pembuatan Jamu yang Baik dan Pemanfaatannya. Hasil pos-test menunjukkan 92,3% peserta telah mendapatkan nilai lebih dari 75.  Dengan demikian, sosialisasi ini efektif untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan peserta. Sebagai upaya untuk mendukung transfer informasi yang baik maka dalam penyelenggaraan sosialisasi berbasis daring harus dipersiapkan fasiliatas pendukung, SDM pelaksana, dan Narasumber yang ditunjuk.

Kata Kunci: Saka Bakti Husada, Krida Bina Obat, Pengetahuan
Asignación de modelos de mantenimiento basada en la criticidad y disponibilidad del equipo
Authors: Flores Marcelo , Medina Deyaneira , Vargas Diana , Remache-Vinueza Byron
Published: December 2020

INTRODUCCIÓN. El análisis de criticidad mediante una matriz de criterios permite establecer la jerarquía de equipos de una planta, mientras que, el cálculo del indicador de disponibilidad muestra el porcentaje de tiempo durante el cual un equipo se encuentra apto para su uso y operativo. OBJETIVO. Desarrollar una herramienta en Excel utilizando criterios de disponibilidad y criticidad de los equipos para la asignación de modelos de mantenimiento. MÉTODO. Esta investigación es de carácter mixto, cualitativa y cuantitativa, utilizando como herramienta el software “Microsoft Excel”, que se configura mediante funciones matemáticas y lógicas para determinar el modelo de mantenimiento. RESULTADOS. Como resultado y aplicación de esta investigación se obtuvo una disponibilidad del 95.51% en el equipo, considerando cada variable para su cálculo. DISCUSIÓN Y CONCLUSIONES. Con este proyecto se demuestra que es posible gestionar el mantenimiento utilizando herramientas de bajo costo como Excel. La herramienta desarrollada en esta investigación significa un aporte sustancial en el proceso de mejora continua y gestión integral del mantenimiento.
Aumento de la presión del cárter por abrasión de los cilindros y la incidencia en la potencia del motor Wärtsilä Vasa 32
Authors: Lema Jorge , Arteaga Gerardo , López William
Published: December 2020

INTRODUCCIÓN. En los motores Wärtsilä Vasa 32 pertenecientes a una empresa de servicios petroleros, se ha evidenciado un aumento de la presión del cárter del motor debido al descenso de la compresión desde la cámara de combustión, producido por un desgaste abrasivo en las camisas de los cilindros, lo que ha provocado una disminución anual de la potencia. OBJETIVO. Determinar el desgaste producido en una camisa, los valores de los elementos abrasivos que se encuentran dispersos en el combustible y aceite, y la dependencia de la potencia en función de la presión del cárter. MÉTODO. Realización de mediciones con instrumentos de metrología y análisis de elementos dispersos en el combustible y aceite en laboratorios internacionales. RESULTADOS. Los análisis de aceite y combustible indicaron una excesiva cantidad de vanadio, aumentando el desgaste abrasivo en las camisas. Este desgaste se comprobó midiendo el diámetro y la rugosidad media de una camisa, después de 12000 horas de funcionamiento y cuyos valores no estaban dentro de los límites recomendados por el fabricante del motor. DISCUSIÓN Y CONCLUSIONES. Existe una correlación lineal decreciente entre la potencia del motor y la presión del cárter. Además, se determinó que el crudo ecuatoriano tiene una elevada cantidad de vanadio.
Optimización de parámetros del proceso de corte con láser para Polimetilmetacrilato y Policloruro de vinilo
Authors: Barreno-Avila Enrique , Moya-Moya Edwin , Barreno-Avila Alex
Published: December 2020

INTRODUCCIÓN. El corte láser es un método preciso para cortar un diseño de un material determinado utilizando como guía un archivo de un diseño asistido por computadora (CAD). Los parámetros de corte por láser son determinantes principales para una característica de calidad. No obstante, existen limitaciones como: tamaño del haz, costo de instalación y reemplazo, accesorios adicionales costosos y la disponibilidad de trabajadores calificados. OBJETIVO. Indagar la influencia de las variables espesor, velocidad y potencia de corte sobre la toleracia, variación dimensional y rugosidad del elemento a prueba en dos polímeros distintos. MÉTODO. Se utilizó el arreglo ortogonal Taguchi L8 y posteriormente ANOVA. RESULTADOS. Para PVC con espesores de 0.8 y 2 mm, la rugosidad óptima fue 4.709 y 1.377 μm, respectivamente. Mientras que la rugosidad del acrílico fue de 0.523 y 0.261 μm correspondientes para espesores de 2 y 5 mm. Por otro lado, a partir de una potencia de 100 w y velocidad de corte de 4 mm/s, la variable de respuesta analizada decrece. Los niveles bajos de las variables de control en acrílico, brindan mejores atributos a las variables de respuesta. DISCUSIÓN Y CONCLUSIONES. El aumento de espesor de ambos materiales (PVC y Acrílico) mejora la calidad superficial y estadísticamente se sustenta la disminución de la rugosidad.
Reingeniería aplicada al sistema de iluminación en una organización industrial
Authors: Cachimuel Carlos , Segura-D´Rouville Joel , Remache-Vinueza Byron
Published: December 2020

INTRODUCCIÓN. El incremento de los precios en la energía eléctrica, el cambio climático, ha impulsado el cambio del mercado mundial de la iluminación hacia fuentes de luz energéticamente más eficientes, mediante un estudio de iluminación para la industria en general. OBJETIVO. Se realiza la toma de muestras y se aplica el procedimiento, para establecer su incidencia en la productividad en una organización industrial. MÉTODO. La investigación se desarrolla bajo un enfoque mixto y bibliográfico. Además, se respalda con un trabajo de campo. RESULTADOS. Los niveles de iluminación encontrados fueron contrastados con la Norma Europea (UNE-EN 12 464-1, 2003) (Iluminación en puestos de trabajo), con la cual se comprobó que los mismos no cumplen con la norma citada, presentando un 40% de incumplimiento, para el área objeto de estudio. DISCUCIÓN Y CONCLUSIONES. Asimismo, se empleó el software de diseño y simulación DIALux evo 8.2, para desarrollar una propuesta del sistema de iluminación. Se comprueba, a través de Indicadores de productividad, un aumento del mismo en el orden de un 80% respecto a la producción y el costo de la energía eléctrica.
Desconexiones frecuentes de planta de generación por protección de porcentaje diferencial
Authors: Torres-Breffe Orlys E. , Silva-Cala Yetsy , García-Labrada Alberto , Veliz-Isla José M. , Padrón-Suárez Lenyer
Published: December 2020

INTRODUCCIÓN. En este artículo se analizó la operación incorrecta de las protecciones diferenciales empleadas en generadores eléctricos debido a las corrientes de inrush de los transformadores de potencia. OBJETIVO. Encontrar una solución económica a las operaciones incorrectas de las protecciones. MÉTODO. Empleando la simulación matemática incluyendo en esta el resultado de las pruebas a los equipos primarios de protecciones se enfrentó la problemática. RESULTADOS. Al cambiar algunos ajustes de las funciones de porcentaje diferencial se resuelve el problema provocado por la selección incorrecta de los transformadores de corrientes. DISCUSIÓN Y CONCLUSIONES. La función de porcentaje diferencial tiene su punto más sensible y vulnerable a las corrientes de inrush en las zonas de bajas corrientes. Los bloqueos por corrientes de inrush no eliminan las operaciones incorrectas de las protecciones diferenciales en los esquemas de varios generadores conectados a una sola barra. Es necesario seleccionar transformadores de corrientes con características magnéticas similares para la utilización en las protecciones diferenciales de generadores.
Burnout en docentes de un instituto tecnológico agronómico
Authors: Vinueza Cristina Nataly , Barreno-Avila Enrique , Flores-Cadena Cristian
Published: December 2020

INTRODUCCIÓN. El estrés en docentes puede causar afectaciones físicas y conductuales que inciden en la calidad de educación. Para atenuar este riesgo se determinó la presencia del Síndrome de Burnout. OBJETIVO. Analizar presencia Síndrome de Burnout en profesores de una institución de educación superior agronómica y su relación con aspectos psicosociales. MÉTODO. Es un estudio descriptivo-transversal con aplicación del Cuestionario Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) para medir la presencia de Síndrome de Burnout y su relación con aspectos psicosociales de los docentes. RESULTADOS. Siete docentes (24,14%) presentan el Síndrome de Burnout, mientras que 21 (72,41%) se encuentran en riesgo y un docente (3,45%) ausenta este síndrome. DISCUSIÓN Y CONCLUSIONES. Únicamente, en la dimensión Despersonalización hubo diferencia estadísticamente significativa en estado civil y campo profesional.
Cañamo (Cannabis sativa L.) para uso industrial y farmacéutico: una visión desde la industria alimentaria
Authors: Fuentes-Pérez Esteban Mauricio , Acurio-Arcos Liliana Patricia
Published: December 2020

INTRODUCCIÓN. La reciente despenalización del cáñamo (Cannabis sativa L.) para uso farmacéutico e industrial en el Ecuador, permite el desarrollo de nuevas líneas de investigación, no solamente en pro del desarrollo científico, sino también para el desarrollo de nuevos productos con características beneficiosas enfocada en la salud de quienes los consumen. OBJETIVO. El objetivo principal se centra en los posibles beneficios que la despenalización del cáñamo puede traer a la industria alimentaria. MÉTODO. Se revisaron 20 documentos científicos para realizar una lectura crítica e inferir en las aplicaciones al contexto del Ecuador. RESULTADOS. El cannabidiol (CBD), es uno de los principales productos extraídos del cáñamo, al que, en la actualidad, se le atribuyen una gran cantidad de propiedades medicinales, principalmente en trastornos de tipo nervioso o mental, como por ejemplo epilepsia, depresión, ansiedad, estrés entre otras. DISCUSIÓN Y CONCLUSIONES. El desarrollo de productos con CBD como aditivo en nuestro país se encuentra relegado, posiblemente por el mismo hecho de ser un tema relativamente nuevo en el contexto.
The
assortment of ceramic building materials from the pottery workshop of Sextus
Me(u)tillius Maximus at Crikvenica (Croatia)
Authors: Konestra Ana , Lipovac Vrkljan Goranka , Šiljeg Bartul
Published: December 2020

Roman building materials, especially brick and tiles (tegulae and imbex) marked a new era in the architecture of Roman Dalmatia. While imported materials seem to still form the bulk of the evidence, recently identified and definitely located local productions provide the possibility to place these products within a technological and economical framework. The in-depth analysis of the array of ceramic building materials (CBM) of the workshop of Sextus Me(u)tillius Maximus in Crikvenica (north-eastern Adriatic) evidences their forming methods and production technology, while some distribution aspects and their role within the rural economy indicate their relevance within the regional CBM market. This paper will highlight such aspects and place them within a wider debate on the onset of production, the organisation of rural property, and the transmission of technology and knowledge through the adoption of “Roman style” architectural solutions.
On the issue of dating Olonkho
Authors: Tikhonov Dmitrii , Agafya Zakharova , Poarch Elisabeth , Neustroeva Tatyana , Sleptsova Alizana
Published: December 2020

The appearance of Olonkho has been of interest in the minds of researchers since the time of P.A. Oyunsky. For the first time in 1927, he suggested that Olonkho could appear in the form of separate narratives of wars during the Tatar and Mongol invasions of China. In this study, we attempted to find out the approximate time of the occurrence of Olonkho based on an interdisciplinary approach.

The aim of the study is to determine the elements of the archaic, ancient and medieval elements of Olonkho and determine the approximate period of their appearance in various Olonkho plots.

Research Methods. We reviewed the available literature on the Yakut epicology, on population genetics, history and ethnogenesis of the Sakha (Yakut). When dating the time of appearance of Olonkho, we used the method used by P.A. Oyunsky. We compiled a picture of the modern understanding of the ethnogenesis of the Sakha based on an analysis of modern historical, archaeological, genetic, humanitarian and our own research on this issue.

Results. The heroic epic of Olonkho is an archaic genre of oral folk art, with its composition containing elements of the archaic, ancient and medieval periods, involved in the texts of Olonkho in different eras. It should be noted that at the same time, Olonkho as an oral genre evolved from myths about the creation of the world to a holistic work in the form of a heroic epic, the formation of which ended in the territory of the Middle Lena with the formation of the Kulun-Atakh culture. Over the past 35,000 years, several waves of large-scale migrations of the ancient population have changed in the territory of Northeastern Siberia, but the female population of the region has remained constant. As we believe, it preserved and introduced Olonkho to the most archaic motifs, as the most conservative and traditional element of the population. The general opening ceremonies of the heroic epics of the Turkic-Mongolian peoples about the creation of the world were probably included in the texts of Olonkho during the golden age of the Xiongnu (Hun) community. Starting from the XII century, there is an increase in Mongolian influence, which is evident from the presence of Mongolisms in the Olonkho language and the emergence of anthroponyms of Buryat-Mongolian origin of the XI-XVII centuries.

Conclusions. The emergence of Olonkho is probably associated with the period of influence of the Xiongnu on the inhabitants of the Middle Lena, material traces of which are observed in the period from 190 BC to the III-IV centuries.
Meslekî eğitim merkezinde çıraklık eğitimi gören bireylerin beslenme durumları ve antropometrik açıdan değerlendirilmesi: Van ili örneği
Authors: ONUR Sebile , KARAÖZ ARIHAN Seda
Published: December 2020

Bu çalışma Van ilinde bulunan Vali Ali Paşa Mesleki Teknik Eğitim Merkezi’nde çıraklık eğitimi gören bireylerin beslenme alışkanlıklarını saptamak, vücut kompozisyonunu belirlemek, literatürde bulunan mevcut referans değerler ile karşılaştırmak ve bireylerin fiziki yapısını antropometrik yöntemlerle değerlendirerek vücut bileşimini ortaya koymak amacıyla yapılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında 261 erkek 117 kadın olmak üzere toplamda 378 birey katılmıştır. Bireylerden boy uzunluğu, vücut ağırlığı, bel çevresi ve kalça çevresi ölçümleri alınmıştır. Aynı zamanda bireylerin beslenme alışkanlıklarının incelenmesi amacıyla düzenli öğün tüketme sıklıkları incelenip tablolar halinde sunulmuştur. Araştırma bulgularına göre erkek bireylerin boy uzunluk ortalaması 169,69 cm, ağırlık ortalaması 64,02 kg, beden kütle endeksi (BKE) ortalaması 22,14 kg/m2’dir. Kadın bireylerde boy uzunluk ortalaması 158,68 cm, ağırlık ortalaması 57,31 kg, BKE ortalaması 22,83 kg/m2 olarak tespit edilmiştir. Bireylerin en fazla atladıkları öğünün sabah kahvaltısı olduğu saptanmıştır. Sağlığın korunması ve geliştirilmesi için beslenme durumunun toplumu oluşturan bireyler üzerinde sürekli izlenmesi ve değerlendirilmesi, ileride ortaya çıkabilecek çeşitli hastalıkların önüne geçilmesi bakımından büyük önem taşımaktadır.
SURGICAL TREATMENT FOR A PATIENT WITH TWO RECTOVAGINAL FISTULAS (case report)
Authors: Aliev F. S. , Aliev R. F. , Ilkanich A. Ya. , Aliev V. F. , Matveev I. A.
Published: December 2020

The article describes clinical case of a patient with two rectovaginal fistulas of high and low level. The first stage included diverting loop sigmostomia and latex seton for low fistula. Three months later, on the second stage, fistulectomy with invagination of the fistula to rectal lumen with compression of invaginated part by titanium nickelide clamp was done. The fistulectomy with sphincteroplasty was done for the lower fistula. No postoperative complications developed; the complete recovery was detected. Seven months later, on the third stage, the stoma closure was done. No complications and fistula recurrence were obtained in 2 months of follow-up.
ANOPLASTY AND LATERAL INTERNAL SPHINCTEROTOMY FOR CHRONIC ANAL FISSURE (systematic review and meta-analysis)
Authors: Arslanbekova K. I. , Khryukin R. Yu. , Zharkov E. E.
Published: December 2020

INTRODUCTION: Lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) is considered the ‘gold standard’ therapy for chronic anal fissure (CAF).  Advantages of LIS over other surgical techniques include higher rate of healing and lower risk of fissure recurrence. However, this procedure is associated with a high risk of anal sphincter insufficiency (ASI) in the postoperative period. Anal advancement flap (AAF) is an alternative surgical procedure for CAF, which requires the use of local flaps. Anal advancement flap is associated with a significantly lower risk of anal incontinence.

AIM: to compare short-term and long-term outcomes of аnal advancement flap and lateral internal sphincterotomy in patients with chronic anal fissure.

METHODS: a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing outcomes of Anal advancement flap and lateral internal sphincterotomy was conducted. We evaluated the following parameters: the rate of epithelialization, the rate of anal sphincter insufficiency, and the rate of postoperative complications. We carried out statistical analysis using the Review Manager software (Review Manager 5.3.)

RESULTS: the systematic review included four studies that presented the results of 278 patients. Compared with LIS, the odds for healing after AAF were 63% lower (OR=0.37; CI=0.19;0.74; P<0.005). We found no significant differences in the rate of postoperative complications (OR=1.43; CI=0.54;3.78; P=0,47). Compared with AAF, the odds for anal incontinence after LIS were 94% greater (OR=0.06; CI=0.01;0.37; P=0,002).

CONCLUSION: both lateral internal sphincterotomy and аnal advancement flap are effective in curing CAF. However, considering the ambiguity and poor quality of data from the studies comparing these procedures, a high risk of bias for comparison groups and heterogeneity of the studies, one should interpret the results with caution; the aforementioned limitations dictate the need for further research.
Hardness of Approximation for Langton’s Ant on a Twisted Torus
Authors: Hagiwara Takeo , Tsukiji Tatsuie
Published: December 2020

Langton’s ant is a deterministic cellular automaton studied in many fields, artificial life, computational complexity, cryptography, emergent dynamics, Lorents lattice gas, and so forth, motivated by the hardness of predicting the ant’s macroscopic behavior from an initial microscopic configuration. Gajardo, Moreira, and Goles (2002) proved that Langton’s ant is PTIME -hard for reachability. On a twisted torus, we demonstrate that it is PSPACE hard to determine whether the ant will ever visit almost all vertices or nearly none of them.
Trajectory Design of Perseus: A CubeSat Mission Concept to Phobos
Authors: Nallapu Ravi teja , Dektor Graham , Kenia Nalik , Uglietta James , Ichikawa Shota , Herreras-Martinez Mercedes , Choudhari Akshay , Chandra Aman , Schwartz Stephen , Asphaug Erik , Thangavelautham Jekanthan
Published: December 2020

The Martian satellites Phobos and Deimos hold many unanswered questions that may provide clues to the origin of Mars. These moons are low Δv stopover sites to Mars. Some human missions to Mars typically identify Phobos and Deimos as staging bases for Mars surface exploration. Astronauts could base initial operations there in lieu of repeated voyages to and from the planet surface, to refuel transiting spacecraft, to teleoperate robotics and other critical machinery, and to develop habitable infrastructure ahead of human landings. Despite their strategic and scientific significance, there has been no successful dedicated mission to either moon. For this reason, we propose Perseus, a geological imaging CubeSat mission to Phobos. Perseus, a 27U, 54kg CubeSat will return thermal and visible images at resolutions better than currently available over most of Phobos’ surface. This includes visible images at 5m/pixel and thermal images at 25m/pixel of Phobos’ surface. The Perseus mission is nominally intended to be a co-orbital mission, where the spacecraft will encounter Phobos on its Martian orbit. However, a hyperbolic rendezvous mission concept, to image Phobos on a hyperbolic flyby, is also considered to reduce the risks associated with orbit capture and to reduce mission costs. This paper presents the preliminary feasibility, science objectives, and technological development challenges of achieving these science goals. We then formulate two rendezvous concepts as a series of three nonlinear optimization problems that span the design tree of mission concepts. The tree’s root node is the heliocentric cruise problem, which identifies the near-optimal launch and arrival windows for the Perseus spacecraft. The leaf nodes of the design tree are the two rendezvous concepts that identify near-optimal co-orbital and hyperbolic trajectories for Phobos’ reconnaissance. The design problems are solved using evolutionary algorithms, and the performance of the selected mission concepts is then examined. The results indicate that a co-orbital encounter allows about one encounter per day with about 6 min per encounter. The hyperbolic encounter, on the other hand, allows a single encounter where the spacecraft will spend about 2 min in the imaging region with respect to Phobos. The spacecraft will obtain higher resolution images of Phobos on this feasible region than have ever been seen for most of the surface. These detailed images will help identify candidate landing sites and provide critical data to derisk future surface missions to Phobos.
Effect of a Micronutrient Fertilizer and Fungicide on the Germination of Perennial Ryegrass Seeds (Lolium perenne L.) in Field Conditions
Authors: Jakusek Mateusz , Brennensthul Marek , Markowska Joanna , Wolski Karol , Sobol Łukasz
Published: December 2020

The aim of this research was to determine the effect of micronutrients and a fungicide on the germination of perennial ryegrass seeds. The experiment was conducted between 2016 and 2018 in Blizocin (51°22′ N, 17°09′ E), Poland. The first experimental factor was InnoFert Mikro, a micronutrient fertilizer used at doses of 0.5 and 1 L∙ha−1, while the second factor was the Soprano 125 S.C. fungicide used at the same doses. From each of the plots, 100 seeds were collected and placed on a Petri dish. Then, every day for 14 days, the plant germination was observed. The highest germination capacity of 95.3% was recorded for seeds from plots where combined full doses of the experimental factors were applied. This figure was 2% higher than for the control sample. The germination speed of the seeds from the above plot, determined by Maguire’s index, was the highest out of the other seed groups, although the seeds from the above plot had the longest average germination time. It was also noted that by increasing the dose of micronutrient fertilizer, the germination speed also increased. In the case of the fungicide, half a dose had a positive effect on germination, but increasing the dose to 1 L∙ha−1 resulted in fewer germinated plants when compared to the control sample.
Growth and Ginsenosides Content of Ginseng Sprouts According to LED-Based Light Quality Changes
Authors: Kim Yoon-Jeong , Nguyen Thi Kim Loan , Oh Myung-Min
Published: December 2020

This study investigated growth and ginsenosides content of ginseng sprouts under various light spectra. One-year-old ginseng seedlings were cultivated under various light treatments including: monochromatic (red (R), green (G), and blue (B)), various RB and RGB combinations, white (fluorescent lamps (FL) and natural white (NW)), and supplemental far red (FR). R and high R ratio increased growth characteristics of ginseng sprouts (excepted for root dry weight). The replacement of G for B in RGB group and W group did not increase the growth, and supplemental FR increased shoot and root fresh weights, total fresh weight, and leaf area. R had 1.5 times higher photosynthetic rate compared to B and G, and R8G1B1 and R9G1B0 showed the highest values in RGB group; whereas the RB, W, and FR groups did not enhance photosynthetic rate. B and high B ratio increased shoot saponin and ginsenosides, total saponin and ginsenosides contents. Total saponin content in shoot was 4.4 times higher than that in root. The supplemental FR enhanced both total saponin and ginsenosides contents. In conclusion, NW + FR showed the highest total fresh weight, saponin and ginsenosides contents among all treatments, suggesting that supplementation of FR has a positive effect on ginseng sprouts grown in plant factories.
Effect of the Refrigeration System on In Vitro Quality and In Vivo Fertility of Goat Buck Sperm
Authors: Mocé Eva , Lozano-Palazón Salvador A. , del Mar Martínez-Granell María , Mocé María Lorena , Gómez Ernesto A.
Published: December 2020

Cooling goat sperm insemination doses to 4 °C causes a delay in their delivery. However, chilling these doses during the transportation period could expedite their delivery and the insemination process. In this study, an economical and simple apparatus for chilling goat semen doses in itinere was developed, and the in vitro quality and in vivo fertility of these doses were compared with those chilled by means of a programmable water bath in the laboratory at a rate of −0.18 °C/min. Of the tested prototypes, the one that provided an optimal combination of the chilling rate (average of −0.09 °C/min) and time required to reach 4 °C (3 h 45 min) was selected for further testing. Immediately after chilling and 24 h later, the doses chilled in the prototype were determined to be of higher quality than the samples chilled in the programmable water bath. Finally, the kidding rate was similar between the doses chilled in the programmable water bath (61.7% ± 7.1%) and in the prototype (56.1% ± 5.9%). In conclusion, successful chilling of goat sperm doses during transport is possible, thereby accelerating the delivery of insemination doses.
Quantification of Hair Corticosterone, DHEA and Testosterone as a Potential Tool for Welfare Assessment in Male Laboratory Mice
Authors: Elmi Alberto , Galligioni Viola , Govoni Nadia , Bertocchi Martina , Aniballi Camilla , Bacci Maria Laura , Sánchez-Morgado José M. , Ventrella Domenico
Published: December 2020

Steroids, providing information regarding several biological patterns including stress and sexual behavior, have been investigated in different matrices in laboratory mice. Data regarding hair quantification, indicative of longer timespans when compared to blood and saliva, are lacking. The aim of the work was to analyze the hormonal hair profile of laboratory male mice and to investigate potential relationships with age and housing, as a potential tool for welfare assessment. Fifty-six adult male C57BL/6J and C57BL/6OlaHsd substrain mice were included in the study, housed in pairs or groups. Testosterone (T) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were quantified by radioimmunoassay, corticosterone (CORT) by ELISA. Mean hormone levels were 6.42 pg/mg for T, 23.16 pg/mg for DHEA and 502.1 pg/mg for CORT. Age influenced all hormones by significantly increasing T and DHEA levels and decreasing CORT; only DHEA, significantly higher in grouped mice, was influenced by housing conditions. The influence of age indicates the need for accurate age-related reference intervals, while the higher levels of DHEA in grouped animals suggests that such housing practice may be beneficial for social interactions. In conclusion, it seems that hair hormones quantification may be a good tool for welfare assessment in laboratory mice and may help in refining husbandry.
Evaluation of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program for Wound and Burn Care in Three Hospitals in Nepal
Authors: Nauriyal Varidhi , Rai Shankar Man , Joshi Rajesh Dhoj , Thapa Buddhi Bahadur , Kaljee Linda , Prentiss Tyler , Maki Gina , Shrestha Basudha , Bajracharya Deepak C. , Karki Kshitij , Joshi Nilesh , Acharya Arjun , Banstola Laxman , Poudel Suresh Raj , Joshi Anip , Dahal Abhinav , Palikhe Niranjan , Khadka Sachin , Giri Piyush , Lamichhane Apar , Zervos Marcus
Published: December 2020

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs can decrease non-optimal use of antibiotics in hospital settings. There are limited data on AMS programs in burn and chronic wound centers in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). A post-prescription review and feedback (PPRF) program was implemented in three hospitals in Nepal with a focus on wound and burn care. A total of 241 baseline and 236 post-intervention patient chart data were collected from three hospitals. There was a significant decrease in utilizing days of therapy per 1000 patient days (DOT/1000 PD) of penicillin (p = 0.02), aminoglycoside (p < 0.001), and cephalosporin (p = 0.04). Increases in DOT/1000 PD at post-intervention were significant for metronidazole (p < 0.001), quinolone (p = 0.01), and other antibiotics (p < 0.001). Changes in use of antibiotics varied across hospitals, e.g., cephalosporin use decreased significantly at Kirtipur Hospital (p < 0.001) and Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences (p = 0.02), but not at Kathmandu Model Hospital (p = 0.59). An independent review conducted by infectious disease specialists at the Henry Ford Health System revealed significant changes in antibiotic prescribing practices both overall and by hospital. There was a decrease in mean number of intravenous antibiotic days between baseline (10.1 (SD 8.8)) and post-intervention (8.8 (SD 6.5)) (t = 3.56; p < 0.001), but no difference for oral antibiotics. Compared to baseline, over the 6-month post-intervention period, we found an increase in justified use of antibiotics (p < 0.001), de-escalation (p < 0.001), accurate documentation (p < 0.001), and adherence to the study antibiotic prescribing guidelines at 72 h (p < 0.001) and after diagnoses (p < 0.001). The evaluation data presented provide evidence that PPRF training and program implementation can contribute to hospital-based antibiotic stewardship for wound and burn care in Nepal.
Spontaneous Formation of Melanin from Dopamine in the Presence of Iron
Authors: Hedges David M. , Yorgason Jordan T. , Perez Andrew W. , Schilaty Nathan D. , Williams Benjamin M. , Watt Richard K. , Steffensen Scott C.
Published: December 2020

Parkinson’s disease is associated with degeneration of neuromelanin (NM)-containing substantia nigra dopamine (DA) neurons and subsequent decreases in striatal DA transmission. Dopamine spontaneously forms a melanin through a process called melanogenesis. The present study examines conditions that promote/prevent DA melanogenesis. The kinetics, intermediates, and products of DA conversion to melanin in vitro, and DA melanogenesis under varying levels of Fe3+, pro-oxidants, and antioxidants were examined. The rate of melanogenesis for DA was substantially greater than related catecholamines norepinephrine and epinephrine and their precursor amino acids tyrosine and l-Dopa as measured by UV-IR spectrophotometry. Dopamine melanogenesis was concentration dependent on the pro-oxidant species and Fe3+. Melanogenesis was enhanced by the pro-oxidant hydrogen peroxide (EC50 = 500 μM) and decreased by the antioxidants ascorbate (IC50 = 10 μM) and glutathione (GSH; IC50 = 5 μM). Spectrophotometric results were corroborated by tuning a fast-scan cyclic voltammetry system to monitor DA melanogenesis. Evoked DA release in striatal brain slices resulted in NM formation that was prevented by GSH. These findings suggest that DA melanogenesis occurs spontaneously under physiologically-relevant conditions of oxidative stress and that NM may act as a marker of past exposure to oxidative stress.
Association of Antioxidants Use with All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Study of the UK Biobank
Authors: Behrendt Inken , Eichner Gerrit , Fasshauer Mathias
Published: December 2020

Prospective studies and randomized controlled trials elucidating the impact of antioxidants supplementation on mortality risk are inconclusive. The present analysis determined association between regular antioxidants use and all-cause (primary objective), as well as cause-specific, mortality in 345,626 participants of the UK Biobank cohort using Cox proportional hazard models. All models were adjusted for confounders and multiple testing. Antioxidants users were defined as participants who indicated to regularly use at least one of the following: multivitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and zinc. Median age of antioxidants users (n = 101,159) and non-users (n = 244,467) at baseline was 57 years. During 3.9 million person-years and a median follow-up of 11.5 years, 19,491 deaths occurred. Antioxidants use was not significantly associated with all-cause, cancer, and non-cancer mortality including several cancer and non-cancer subtypes. Interestingly, mortality risk from respiratory disease was significantly 21% lower among antioxidants users as compared to non-users (hazard ratio: 0.79; 95% confidence interval: 0.67, 0.92). In conclusion, the present study findings do not support recommendations for antioxidants supplementation to prevent all-cause, cancer, or non-cancer mortality on a population level. The significant inverse association between antioxidants use and respiratory disease mortality needs further study.
10 Gb/s Bidirectional Transmission with an Optimized SOA and a SOA-EAM Based ONU
Authors: Chen Xin Rui , Chu Guang Yong
Published: December 2020

We investigated the application of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and an SOA electro-absorption modulator (SOA-EAM) as attractive, low-cost solutions in passive optical networks (PONs). The main characteristics of an SOA with optimal performance for phase and amplitude modulation were tested. Additionally, a 10 Gb/s bidirectional transmission with an optical network unit (ONU) transmitter integrated with a distributed feedback (DFB) laser, electro-absorption modulator (EAM), and SOA was designed. The upstream (US) and downstream (DS) receiver sensitivities at the forward error correction (FEC) level reached −29.5 dBm and −33.5 dBm for back-to-back (BtB) fiber and −28.9 dBm and −33.1 dBm for 20 km fiber. For multichannel transmission, the US receiver sensitivities reached −28.8 dBm and −28.2 dBm for BtB and 20 km fibers, and the DS receiver sensitivities reached −33 dBm and −32.6 dBm for BtB and 20 km fibers, respectively.
Cyber Firefly Algorithm Based on Adaptive Memory Programming for Global Optimization
Authors: Yin Peng-Yeng , Chen Po-Yen , Wei Ying-Chieh , Day Rong-Fuh
Published: December 2020

Recently, two evolutionary algorithms (EAs), the glowworm swarm optimization (GSO) and the firefly algorithm (FA), have been proposed. The two algorithms were inspired by the bioluminescence process that enables the light-mediated swarming behavior for mating or foraging. From our literature survey, we are convinced with much evidence that the EAs can be more effective if appropriate responsive strategies contained in the adaptive memory programming (AMP) domain are considered in the execution. This paper contemplates this line and proposes the Cyber Firefly Algorithm (CFA), which integrates key elements of the GSO and the FA and further proliferates the advantages by featuring the AMP-responsive strategies including multiple guiding solutions, pattern search, multi-start search, swarm rebuilding, and the objective landscape analysis. The robustness of the CFA has been compared against the GSO, FA, and several state-of-the-art metaheuristic methods. The experimental result based on intensive statistical analyses showed that the CFA performs better than the other algorithms for global optimization of benchmark functions.
Modulated 3D Cross-Correlation Dynamic Light Scattering Applications for Optical Biosensing and Time-Dependent Monitoring of Nanoparticle-Biofluid Interactions
Authors: Schintke Silvia , Frau Eleonora
Published: December 2020

This paper reviews dynamic light scattering (DLS) of gold nanoparticle-protein interactions for the model protein bovine serum albumin (BSA), as well as in complex biofluids, at the example of mouse serum. DLS data of nanorods of various aspect ratio, of proteins and of mouse serum are discussed in terms of the analysis of their hydrodynamic radii, leading to the distinction of rotational and translational motion as well as to the detection of agglomerates. We address in particular advances obtained by modulated 3D cross correlation dynamic light scattering and recent progress using the CORENN algorithm for analysis of DLS data.
Estimation of the High-Frequency Attenuation Parameter Kappa for the Zagreb (Croatia) Seismic Stations
Authors: Stanko Davor , Markušić Snježana , Korbar Tvrtko , Ivančić Josip
Published: December 2020

The city of Zagreb (Croatian capital) is situated in the contact area of three major regional tectonic units: the SE Alps, NW Dinarides, and Tisza Unit in the southwestern margin of the Pannonian Basin. The Zagreb seismic zone encompasses the Medvednica Mountains and the city of Zagreb with its surrounding areas, which was struck by the strongest instrumentally recorded earthquake (M5.5) on 22 March 2020. The objective of this contribution is the estimation of the high-frequency attenuation spectral parameter kappa (κ) and its local site-specific component for the Zagreb (Croatia) seismic stations to which we were particularly encouraged after the scale of the damage after the Zagreb 2020 earthquake. We tested linear dependence of κ with epicentral distance using traditional linear least square regression, linear regression for data with errors, and constrained model at close distances to estimate near-site attenuation (κ0). Regression-estimated site kappa values at zero-distance are within the range of the uncertainty (±1 standard deviation) with constrained κ0 value as well within the range of existing global κ0 and VS30 (shear wave velocity in the top 30 m) values. Spatial distribution of κ within the Zagreb seismic zone shows that κ is not isotropic and high-frequency attenuation anisotropy is probably affected by local and regional geological variability, regional active faults and a complex tectonic structure in each direction.
Desktop 3D Printing: Key for Surgical Navigation in Acral Tumors?
Authors: Moreta-Martinez Rafael , Calvo-Haro José Antonio , Pérez-Mañanes Rubén , García-Sevilla Mónica , Mediavilla-Santos Lydia , Pascau Javier
Published: December 2020

Surgical navigation techniques have shown potential benefits in orthopedic oncologic surgery. However, the translation of these results to acral tumor resection surgeries is challenging due to the large number of joints with complex movements of the affected areas (located in distal extremities). This study proposes a surgical workflow that combines an intraoperative open-source navigation software, based on a multi-camera tracking, with desktop three-dimensional (3D) printing for accurate navigation of these tumors. Desktop 3D printing was used to fabricate patient-specific 3D printed molds to ensure that the distal extremity is in the same position both in preoperative images and during image-guided surgery (IGS). The feasibility of the proposed workflow was evaluated in two clinical cases (soft-tissue sarcomas in hand and foot). The validation involved deformation analysis of the 3D-printed mold after sterilization, accuracy of the system in patient-specific 3D-printed phantoms, and feasibility of the workflow during the surgical intervention. The sterilization process did not lead to significant deformations of the mold (mean error below 0.20 mm). The overall accuracy of the system was 1.88 mm evaluated on the phantoms. IGS guidance was feasible during both surgeries, allowing surgeons to verify enough margin during tumor resection. The results obtained have demonstrated the viability of combining open-source navigation and desktop 3D printing for acral tumor surgeries. The suggested framework can be easily personalized to any patient and could be adapted to other surgical scenarios.