bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radiomic analysis of lung cancer for the assessment of patient prognosis and intratumor heterogeneity
Authors: Ferreira Junior José Raniery , Koenigkam-Santos Marcel , Machado Camila Vilas Boas , Faleiros Matheus Calil , Correia Natália Santana Chiari , Cipriano Federico Enrique Garcia , Fabro Alexandre Todorovic , Azevedo-Marques Paulo Mazzoncini de
Published: March 2021

Abstract Objective: To determine whether the radiomic features of lung lesions on computed tomography correlate with overall survival in lung cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study involving 101 consecutive patients with malignant neoplasms confirmed by biopsy or surgery. On computed tomography images, the lesions were submitted to semi-automated segmentation and were characterized on the basis of 2,465 radiomic variables. The prognostic assessment was based on Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests, according to the median value of the radiomic variables. Results: Of the 101 patients evaluated, 28 died (16 dying from lung cancer), and 73 were censored, with a mean overall survival time of 1,819.4 days (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1,481.2-2,157.5). One radiomic feature (the mean of the Fourier transform) presented a difference on Kaplan-Meier curves (p < 0.05). A high-risk group of patients was identified on the basis of high values for the mean of the Fourier transform. In that group, the mean survival time was 1,465.4 days (95% CI: 985.2-1,945.6), with a hazard ratio of 2.12 (95% CI: 1.01-4.48). We also identified a low-risk group, in which the mean of the Fourier transform was low (mean survival time of 2,164.8 days; 95% CI: 1,745.4-2,584.1). Conclusion: A radiomic signature based on the Fourier transform correlates with overall survival, representing a prognostic biomarker for risk stratification in patients with lung cancer.
Placental magnetic resonance imaging: normal appearance, anatomical variations, and pathological findings
Authors: Novis Maria Inês , Moura Ana Paula Carvalhal , Watanabe Agnes de Paula Fernandes , Pereira Luciana Carla Longo e , Warmbrand Gisele , D'Ippolito Giuseppe
Published: March 2021

Abstract Placental magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been increasingly requested, especially for the evaluation of suspected cases of placental adhesive disorders, generally known as placenta accreta. Abdominal radiologists need to become familiar with normal placental anatomy, anatomical variations, the current terminology, and major placental diseases that, although rare, are important causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this didactic pictorial essay is to illustrate various findings on placental MRI, as well as to emphasize the importance of communication between radiologists and obstetricians in the search for best practices in the management of the affected patients.
MODERN MONEY THEORY: RISE IN THE INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO AND RECENT DEBATE IN BRAZIL
Authors: DEOS SIMONE , MATTOS OLÍVIA BULLIO , ULTREMARE FERNANDA , MENDONÇA ANA ROSA RIBEIRO DE
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT This paper has a twofold purpose. The first one is to present the core ideas of MMT. The second one is to explain its recent rise in Brazil after the publication of Andre Lara Resende’s articles in the press in 2019 and a book in 2020. In order to do that, the paper is organized as follows. After the introduction, the first session presents the core ideas of MMT: i) chartal money, or tax driven money; ii) functional finance; iii) Minskyan financial fragility; iv) sectoral balances approach; v) employer of last resort. The second session presents some critiques MMT has received both from the orthodox and the heterodox sides at the international level. The third section discusses the particular way in which MMT’s ideas have recently arrived in Brazil, considering peculiarities of the Brazilian economic debate and political scenario. The final session brings back the main ideas presented in the paper and raises critics to Lara Resende’s contributions from a political economy perspective.
Panem et circenses: a propósito da macroeconomia da pandemia
Authors: SOUZA FRANCISCO EDUARDO PIRES DE
Published: March 2021

RESUMO O presente texto destaca duas características que singularizam a macroeconomia da pandemia: a interdição de parte do consumo e da produção, pelas políticas de saúde pública; e um importante processo de redistribuição de renda que resulta das políticas destinadas a mitigar os efeitos da paralisia econômica sobre a saúde financeira de indivíduos e empresas. Um aspecto central deste segundo processo é a transferência de renda do setor público para o privado, que resulta em aumento da despoupança do setor público e elevação da poupança privada. A consequência é uma forte alteração da riqueza líquida dos diferentes setores da sociedade. As estimativas feitas neste trabalho indicam que entre fevereiro e agosto de 2020, no Brasil, o setor privado obteve um ganho de riqueza líquida de quase 12% do PIB.
Yersinia massiliensis (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae) in the host Anaphes nitens (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae): first report of association with insects
Authors: Ribeiro M. F. , Carvalho V. R. , Favoreto A. L. , De Marchi B. R. , Jordan C. , Zanuncio J. C. , Soares M. A. , Zanuncio A. J. V. , Wilcken C. F.
Published: March 2021

Abstract Endosymbiont bacteria can affect biological parameters and reduce the effectiveness of natural enemies in controlling the target insect. The objective of this work was to identify endosymbiont bacteria in Anaphes nitens (Girault, 1928) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), the main natural enemy used to manage Gonipterus platensis (Marelli, 1926) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Genomic DNA from six A. nitens populations was extracted and polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were performed with the primers to detect endosymbiont bacteria in this insect. The PCR products were amplified, sequenced, and compared with sequences deposited in the GenBank for the bacteria identification. All A. nitens populations had the bacterium Yersinia massiliensis (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae). This bacterium was originally described as free-living, and it is associated with and composes part of the A. nitens microbiota. This is the first report of Y. massiliensis in an insect host.
Institutional arrangements in the commercialization of electric energy from sugarcane biomass in the Brazilian midwest
Authors: Garcia Marli da Silva , Vilpoux Olivier François , Cereda Marney Pascoli
Published: March 2021

abstract: Reducing the use of fossil fuels and mitigating environmental impacts justifies the generation of electricity from renewable sources. In Brazil, sugarcane is the biomass that most generates electricity, and Mato Grosso do Sul state accounts for 10% of this electricity. Production can be traded in the spot market, long-term contracts regulated by the Federal Government, or free contracts between companies. Despite these options, only half of the sugarcane industries in Mato Grosso do Sul commercialize electricity. Based on Transaction cost economics, the objective of this work is to identify the most suitable governance structures used in the commercialization of electricity produced by the sugarcane plants in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul and to evaluate the institutional environment impact on these structures. A questionnaire was applied to all sugarcane companies in the state, and interviews were conducted with specialists and regulatory agencies. The results indicate that the widespread use of plural forms of governance for the commercialization of energy reduces the risks linked to a weak institutional environment and judicialization of the spot market. The preference for free contracts and a large number of short-term transactions indicate a lack of trust in the existing institutions, with the need to strengthen independent regulatory agencies.
Iterative calculation of local head loss coefficient of emitters in lateral lines
Authors: Prado Giuliani , Bruscagin Rafael R. , Tinos Adriano C. , Bortoletto Edmilson C. , Mahl Denise
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT This study aimed to iteratively set the local head loss coefficient of the Naan® micro-sprinkler, model 7110 Hadar, installed in a lateral irrigation line. To evaluate the total head loss along the lateral line, tests were performed using a rigid PVC pipe with an inner diameter of 15.8 mm, 12 m in length, and 24 micro-sprinklers inserted along the pipe, regularly spaced 0.5 m. In the tests carried out for four micro-sprinkler nozzle diameters (0.9, 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2 mm) and six inlet pressure head values (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 m) in the line, the pressure head difference between inlet and outlet in the pipe and the discharge of each emitter along the pipe were measured. The head loss computation was performed by the step-by-step procedure, starting from the downstream end to the upstream end of the line; since varying the local head loss coefficient values iteratively, the total head loss measured in the tests was equal to the calculated. For the different working conditions of the inlet pressure head and the micro-sprinkler nozzle diameter, the local head loss coefficient had values from 0.051 to 0.169. Relating the discharge values measured and estimated along the lateral line, the confidence coefficient of 0.9991 was verified, and the calculation procedure was considered optimal.
Quality index of an Oxisol under different management systems in the Brazilian Cerrado
Authors: Fagundes Marla O. , Reis Diony A. , Portella Roberto B. , Perina Fabiano J. , Bogiani Julio C.
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT Assessing soil quality under different cover crops or different management systems is essential to its conservation. This study aimed to evaluate an Oxisol cultivated with corn and cotton, after different crop successions and under no-tillage system (NTS) and conventional tillage system (CT), through the soil quality index (SQI), using an area of native Cerrado as reference. The study was carried out in the municipality of Luís Eduardo Magalhães, Western Bahia, Brazil. Soil samples with the preserved and non-preserved structure were collected in the layers of 0-0.05 m, 0.05-0.10 m, and 0.10-0.20 m to determine the macroporosity, the soil bulk density, the available water, the levels of total organic carbon, the clay dispersed in water, and the degree of flocculation. The averages of the attributes measured in the treatments and the soil quality index, which was elaborated by the method of deviations of the values of the attributes measured in the treatments concerning the reference area, followed by normalization, were compared by the Duncan test (p ≤ 0.05). The soil under CT, in all treatments, had its quality reduced when compared to the NTS. Also, the SQI used was sensitive to detect the changes caused by the management systems and assign consistent scores to the evaluated soil quality.
DETERMINANTES QUANTITATIVOS DO DESEMPENHO JUDICIAL: FATORES ASSOCIADOS À PRODUTIVIDADE DOS TRIBUNAIS DE JUSTIÇA
Authors: Sátiro Renato Máximo , Sousa Marcos de Moraes
Published: March 2021

Resumo Muito se tem discutido acerca dos fatores que levariam a uma atuação eficiente ou ineficiente do sistema judiciário brasileiro, e uma parte das discussões acadêmicas em relação ao campo de Administração da Justiça diz respeito aos antecedentes de desempenho/produtividade relativos aos tribunais e magistrados. Nesse sentido, o objetivo principal do presente trabalho foi identificar os aspectos determinantes da produtividade dos tribunais de justiça estaduais no Brasil e testar variáveis emergentes que possam auxiliar nesse entendimento. A partir de uma análise da literatura de referência, foram definidas variáveis já consolidadas: carga de trabalho, quantidade de recursos humanos (servidores efetivos e empregados terceirizados); e variáveis emergentes: advogados e conciliadores. A técnica de inferência utilizada foi a Regressão Múltipla com dados em painel. Após o teste e a validação do modelo e dos pressupostos da Regressão foram confirmadas as hipóteses de que a quantidade de advogados, a carga de trabalho e a quantidade de servidores efetivos e empregados terceirizados afetam a produtividade dos tribunais. Por último, os resultados apontam na direção contrária das orientações do Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ); concluiu-se que a quantidade de conciliadores não está relacionada à produtividade dos tribunais de justiça.
Atovaquone, chloroquine, primaquine, quinine and tetracycline: antiproliferative effects of relevant antimalarials on Neospora caninum
Authors: Pereira Luiz Miguel , de Luca Gabriela , Abichabki Nathália de Lima Martins , Brochi Jade Cabestre Venancio , Baroni Luciana , Abreu-Filho Péricles Gama , Yatsuda Ana Patrícia
Published: March 2021

Abstract Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite that causes abortion in cattle, resulting in significant economic losses. There is no commercial treatment for neosporosis, and drug repositioning is a fast strategy to test possible candidates against N. caninum. In this article, we describe the effects of atovaquone, chloroquine, quinine, primaquine and tetracycline on N. caninum proliferation. The IC50 concentrations in N. caninum were compared to the current information based on previous studies for Plasmodium and Toxoplasma gondii, correlating to the described mechanisms of action of each tested drug. The inhibitory patterns indicate similarities and differences among N. caninum, Plasmodium and T. gondii. For example, atovaquone demonstrates high antiparasitic activity in all the analyzed models, while chloroquine does not inhibit N. caninum. On the other hand, tetracycline is effective against Plasmodium and N. caninum, despite its low activity in T. gondii models. The repurposing of antimalarial drugs in N. caninum is a fast and inexpensive way to develop novel formulations using well-established compounds.
İŞ YERİ YALNIZLIĞININ İKİ YÜZÜ: SANAL KAYTARMA VE YENİLİKÇİ İŞ PERFORMANSI
Authors: BOZ SEMERCİ Anil , ERGENELİ Azize , YILMAZ Zübeyde
Published: March 2021

Bu çalışmada, çalışanların iş yeri yalnızlığının sanal kaytarma davranışları ve yenilikçi iş performansı üzerindeki etkilerinin belirlenmesi ve sanal kaytarma davranışının iş yeri yalnızlığı ile yenilikçi iş performansı arasındaki aracılık rolünün ortaya konması amaçlanmıştır. Değişen yaşam koşulları, bireyler arası rekabet ve ilişkilerde yaşanan kopukluk iş yerlerinde bireylerin yalnızlık yaşamasına sebep olmuş ve ‘iş yeri yalnızlığı’ kavramının ortaya çıkmasına zemin hazırlamıştır. İş yerinde yalnızlık yaşayan bireyler, gelişen bilgi ve iletişim teknolojileri ve internet erişiminde yaşanan kolaylıkların da etkisi ile mesai saati içerisinde zamanlarının çoğunluğunu şahsi amaçlarla bilgisayar ve internet kullanımına ayırabilmektedir. Sanal kaytarma davranışı olarak adlandırılan bu davranışlar, çalışanların performans, verimlilik, yenilikçilik gibi çıktıları ile de ilişkilendirilmektedir. Dolayısıyla iş yeri yalnızlığı ve sanal kaytarma davranışlarının işletmeler için önemli çıktılardan biri olan çalışanların yenilikçi performansı üzerindeki etkilerinin açıklanması ve gerekli düzenlemelerin yapılması hem yöneticiler hem de çalışanlar için önem arz etmektedir. Bu doğrultuda kartopu yöntemi ile 136 tam zamanlı çalışandan; iş yeri yalnızlık algılarını, sanal kaytarma davranış sıklıklarını ve yenilikçi iş performanslarını ölçmek amacıyla veri toplanmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular hem iş yeri yalnızlığının hem de sanal kaytarmanın yenilikçi iş performansı üzerindeki etkilerini ve sanal kaytarmanın aracılık rolünü ortaya çıkarmıştır. Bulgular çalışmanın kısıtları ışığında pratik ve teorik katkıları ile birlikte değerlendirilmiştir.
EVALUATION OF CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENT EFFECTIVENESS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF VAMPIRE EFFECT BY USING EYE TRACKING TECHNIQUE
Authors: TOKMAK Gizem , AKSOY Ramazan
Published: March 2021

The first step for an advertisement to be effective is to attract attention. To attract attention, advertisers generally prefer to use celebrities or attractive models as human message sources. However, this situation may be risky as these human message sources attract all the attention on them and thus overshadow other advertising elements and create vampire effect. In this research, vampire effect was examined by using eye tracking and questionnaire techniques together. Results show that as the fixation duration to celebrity and unknown model with similar attractiveness score to the celebrity in the advertisements increased, brand recognition rate decreased by 47.8 %. Thus, the research result promoted vampire effect assumption.
Cognitive Bias Affecting Decision-Making in the Legal Process
Authors: Adebola Olaborede  , Lirieka Meintjes-van der Walt
Published: March 2021

Several empirical research studies have shown that cognitive bias can unconsciously distort inferences and interpretations made by judges either at the hearing, ruling or sentencing stage of a court trial and this may result in miscarriages of justice. This article examines how cognitive heuristics affects judicial decision-making with seven common manifestations of heuristics such as availability heuristics, confirmation bias, egocentric bias, anchoring, hindsight bias, framing and representativeness. This article contends that the different manifestations of heuristics pose a potentially serious risk to the quality and objectivity of any criminal case, despite the professional legal training and experience of judges and magistrates. Therefore, suggestions on how best to avoid and minimise the effects of cognitive heuristics, especially within South African courts are proffered. These include creating awareness raising, cross-examination and replacement.
A Consideration of Sections 249, 250 and 259 of the Proposed Third Amendment Bill to the Children’s Act in Light of the Best Interests Principle
Authors: Glynis van der Walt
Published: March 2021

With the promulgation of the Constitution in 1996, national legislative recognition was given to the principle that a child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child (s 28(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996). Section 28(1)(b) expressly provides for the right of a child to family care, parental care or appropriate alternative care. Based on economic and other factors, developing countries like South Africa experience difficulties in meeting the constitutional right of a child to have his or her best interests met and the placement of an orphaned or abandoned child (OAC) in appropriate alternative care is no exception. In light hereof, the current note considers whether the proposed amendments to the Children’s Act (CA, Act 38 of 2005 as amended) introduced by the Third Amendment Bill (GG 42005 of 2019-02-25), with particular reference to sections 249, 250 and 259 comply with this constitutional right. These three sections are of particular relevance to placing a child in permanent care in the form of both national and intercountry adoption. In particular, section 249 makes provision that no consideration may be given in respect to adoption, section 250 limits the persons who are allowed to provide adoption services and section 259 makes provision for the accreditation for the provision of intercountry adoption services. All three sections are relevant to the adoption process of an OAC. Alternative care options available and the basis for determining which placement decided upon is deemed to be the most appropriate for the child concerned, are considered in light of the proposed amendments. A consideration of the current status of the child welfare system in South Africa as well as the statistics of the many children in need of alternative care, serves to provide a background in determining whether the proposed amendments meet and further the vulnerable OAC’s best interests.
Pattern Recognition: Impact of Exercises Modes on Developing a Small Ball Throwing Skill in Boys Aged 8
Authors: Iermakov Sergii , Ivashchenko Olha , Khudolii Oleg , Chernenko Sergii , Veremeenko Viktoriia , Zelenskyi Bohdan
Published: March 2021

The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of exercises modes on developing a small ball throwing skill in boys aged 8. 

Materials and methods. The study participants were 21 boys aged 8, who were randomly divided into three groups of 7 people. The children and their parents were fully informed about all the features of the study and gave their consent to participate in the experiment.

The study examined the influence of the number of repetitions on the effectiveness of teaching boys aged 8 throwing a small ball at a target. A pedagogical experiment examined the influence of 6, 12, and 18 repetitions with a 60-second rest interval on the increase in the level of proficiency in exercises of boys aged 8. In the first group, the boys repeated the task 6 times with a rest interval of 60 s, in the second group – 12 times with a rest interval of 60 s, in the third group 18 times with a rest interval of 60 s. When teaching throwing exercises during the class, the study evaluated the level of proficiency by the alternative method (“performed”, “failed”) and calculated the probability of exercise performance (p = n/m, where n is the number of successful attempts, m is the total number of attempts). 

In teaching boys aged 8, the method of algorithmic instructions was used. The next exercise started after three successful attempts. Throwing a ball at a vertical target was taught.

The study materials were processed by the IBM SPSS 20 statistical analysis software. During discriminant analysis, a prognostic model for group membership was created. 

Results. Discriminant analysis made it possible to determine the impact of the number of repetitions on the effectiveness of developing the skills of throwing a small ball at a target; answer the question as to how significantly the modes of repetitions differ by the effectiveness of motor skills development, what class the object belongs to based on the values of discriminant variables.

Conclusions. Based on the analysis of group centroids, it was found that in boys aged 8, six repetitions of the exercise (6 sets one time with a rest interval of 60 s) significantly influence the increase in the level of proficiency in exercises during physical education lessons.

The results of group classification show that 85.7% of the original grouped observations were classified correctly.
Experimental Protocol v1
Authors: M Al-Rasheed Nouf
Published: March 2021

This protocol explains methods for the following: Glutathione Assay Malondialdehyde (MDA) or lipid peroxidation (LPO) Assay Superoxide Activity (SOD) TGF-beta1 (ELISA) CK-MB (ELISA) Western Blot Histology & Immunohistochemistry
PCR v1
Authors: EBDG Boris Emmanuel DJOUMSIE GOMSEU emmanuelgomseu
Published: March 2021

The molecular identification of C. trachomatis was performed using two different pairs of primers: cryptic plasmic primer KL1/KL2 (KL1, 5'-TCCGGAGCGAGTTACGAAGA-3'; KL2, 5’-AATCAATGCCCGGGATTGGT-3'), and MOMP primer (forward, 5'-CCTGTGGGGAAT CCTGCTGAA-3'; Reverse, 5' GTC GAA AAC AAA GTC ACC ATA GTA 3' ). The amplification reactions were set for each primer pair in a 25 μl reaction volume containing 1X PCR buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl; 50 mM KCl; 1.5 mM MgCl2), 0.5 μM of each pair of primer, 200 μM of dNTPs; 1U of Taq DNA polymerase, 5µl of DNA. The amplifications were carried out in a thermocycler (AB Veriti) with thermocycling conditions including an initial denaturation step at 95 oC for 10 minutes, followed by 50 amplification cycles each comprising a denaturation step at 95 oC for 30 seconds, annealing at 60 oC for 45 seconds, and elongation at 72 oC for 1 minute and a final extension at 72 oC for 7 minutes. The amplicons were subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and observed on a UV transilluminator. Positive samples were used for the identification of different serovars of C. trachomatis using CT OMP 1F (5’-ATG AAA AAA CTC TTG AAA TCG G-3’) and CT OMP 2R (5’-ACT GTA ACT GCG TAT TTG TCT G-3’) primers.This identification was performed by PCR in 25μl reaction medium containing 2.5 μl of 1X PCR buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl; 50 mM KCl; 1.5 mM MgCl2), 1.0 μM of each of primer, 200 μM of dNTPs; 1.5 U of Taq DNA polymerase and 5 µl of DNA. Thermocycling conditions constituted an initial denaturation step at 95oC for 15 minutes, followed by 45 amplification cycles each comprising a denaturation at 95 oC for 30 seconds, annealing at 55 oC for 45 seconds, elongation at 72oC for 90 seconds and a final extension at 72 oC for 7 minutes.
Formulation and antimicrobial activity evaluation of a 0.2% chlorhexidine canine mouthwash with essential oils
Authors: Madrigal Redondo German , Gonzalez Corrales Daniela , Chavarria Rojas Marianela , Monge Quiros Tatiana , Cruz Sibaja Wendy , Rojas Campos Norman
Published: March 2021

Background: Periodontal disease is the infection and inflammation of the gums, bones, and tissues involved in teeth support, and it is one of the most common diseases affecting pet dogs. Essential oils have shown antimicrobial activity against bacteria causing periodontal disease; therefore, they are considered potential therapeutic agents. Objectives: The main objective was to formulate and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of a 0.2% chlorhexidine canine mouthwash with essential oils. Methods: Three microemulsion formulations were obtained by constructing a pseudo-ternary phase diagram using the phase titration method. Different surfactant agents were evaluated, and hydrogenated castor oil was selected as the emulsifier agent. The antimicrobial activity of oregano essential oil (Origanum vulgare), thyme essential oil (Thymus vulgaris), and the three formulations were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, and Escherichia coli. Results: Pure thyme and oregano essential oils showed higher antimicrobial activity than a 0,2% chlorhexidine solution. The formulations with essential oils plus chlorhexidine and chlorhexidine alone showed antimicrobial activity. The formulation containing only essential oils did not show antimicrobial activity. Conclusions: A canine mouthwash was formulated with chlorhexidine and thyme and oregano essential oil. Based on the evaluation of antimicrobial activity, two of the proposed formulations could be a therapeutic option to reduce the risk and prevent periodontal disease in canines.
Experimental Governance and Urban Planning Futures: Five Strategic Functions for Municipalities in Local Innovation
Authors: Eneqvist Erica , Karvonen Andrew
Published: March 2021

Experimental governance is increasingly being implemented in cities around the world through laboratories, testbeds, platforms, and innovation districts to address a wide range of complex sustainability challenges. Experiments often involve public-private partnerships and triple helix collaborations with the municipality as a key stakeholder. This stretches the responsibilities of local authorities beyond conventional practices of policymaking and regulation to engage in more applied, collaborative, and recursive forms of planning. In this article, we examine how local authorities are involved in experimental governance and how this is influencing their approach to urban development. We are specifically interested in the multiple strategic functions that municipalities play in experimental governance and the broader implications to existing urban planning practices and norms. We begin the article by developing an analytic framework of the most common strategic functions of municipalities in experimental governance and then apply this framework to Stockholm, a city that has embraced experimental governance as a means to realise its sustainability ambitions. Our findings reveal how the strategic functions of visioning, facilitating, supporting, amplifying, and guarding are producing new opportunities and challenges to urban planning practices in twenty-first century cities.
The Practice of Urban Experimentation in Dutch City Labs
Authors: Scholl Christian , Kraker Joop De
Published: March 2021

‘Urban planning by experiment’ can be seen as an approach that uses experimentation to innovate and improve urban planning instruments, approaches, and outcomes. Nowadays, urban experiments—interventions in the city with the aim to innovate, learn, or gain experience—are increasingly taking place in the context of Urban Living Labs. In the Netherlands, a certain type of Urban Living Lab, called city labs, is flourishing, and it has been suggested that these labs could make an important contribution to ‘urban planning by experiment.’ However, previous studies have indicated that this will depend on how experimentation is conducted in these labs. To obtain a more comprehensive picture of the practice of experimentation, we conducted a survey among Dutch city labs, supplemented by individual and group interviews with practitioners from a small subset of the 17 responding labs. We conclude that there is a poor match between the practice of experimentation in Dutch city labs and the characteristics that are considered to support effective ‘urban planning by experiment’ (i.e., a structured approach to experimentation, co-creation of experiments, active and targeted dissemination of lessons learned, and experiments as linking pins between municipal policy goals and the needs of urban society). This suggests that the current contribution of Dutch city labs to ‘urban planning by experiment’ is probably quite limited. Further research is needed to determine whether the typical practice of experimentation encountered in the Dutch city labs, i.e., action-oriented, resource-limited, and largely driven by opportunities, is also found in Urban Living Labs elsewhere.
Contextualising Urban Experimentation: Analysing the Utopiastadt Campus Case with the Theory of Strategic Action Fields
Authors: Wanner Matthias , Bachmann Boris , Von Wirth Timo
Published: March 2021

Practices of urban experimentation are currently seen as a promising approach to making planning processes more collaborative and adaptive. The practices develop not only in the context of ideal-type concepts of urban experiments and urban labs but also organically in specific governance contexts. We present such an organic case in the city of Wuppertal, Germany, centred around a so-called change-maker initiative, ‘Utopiastadt.’ This initiative joined forces with the city administration and collaborated with a private property owner and the local economic development agency in an unusual planning process for the development of a central brownfield site. Ultimately, the consortium jointly published a framework concept that picked up the vision of the ‘Utopiastadt Campus’ as an open-ended catalyst area for pilot projects and experiments on sustainability and city development. The concept was adopted by the city council and Utopiastadt purchased more than 50% of the land. In order to analyse the wider governance context and power struggles, we apply the social-constructivist theory of Strategic Action Fields (SAFs). We focused on the phases of contention and settlement, the shift in interaction forms, the role of an area development board as an internal governance unit and the influences of proximate fields, strategic action, and state facilitation on the development. We aim to demonstrate the potential of the theory of SAFs to understand a long-term urban development process and how an episode of experimentation evolved within this process. We discuss the theory’s shortcomings and reflect critically on whether the process contributed to strengthening collaborative and experimental approaches in the governance of city development.
Intensity of Electromagnetic Wave into Layers with Fluctuations of Dielectric Permittivity
Authors:   Radiophysical Research Institute, Lobachevsky National Research State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Grigor’ev Gennady I. , Zaboronkova Tatiana M. ,   Lobachevsky National Research State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Kogan Lev P. ,   Nizhny Novgorod State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering
Published: March 2021

The study is made of the intensity of a plane electromagnetic wave propagating into the layer with random discrete irregularities of the dielectric permittivity. The mean intensity of scattered field as a function of the parameters of random irregularities of rectangular and triangular forms is analyzed. It is shown that the deviation of the average intensity from the unperturbed value increases both the average amplitude and its standard of fluctuations. It is found that the amplitude of the intensity oscillations for a layer with irregularities of the rectangular shape is significantly greater than for fluctuations with the triangular profile.
The study of dynamical processes in problems of mesofracture layers exploration seismology by methods of mathematical and physical simulation
Authors:   Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Muratov Maxim V. , Stognii Polina V. ,   Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Petrov Igor B. ,   Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Anisimov Alexey A. ,   Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Karaev Nazim A. ,   Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
Published: March 2021

The article is devoted to the study of the propagation of elastic waves in a fractured seismic medium by methods of mathematical modeling. The results obtained during it are compared with the results of physical modeling on similar models. For mathematical modeling, the grid-characteristic method with hybrid schemes of 1-3 orders with approximation on structural rectangular grids is used. The ability to specify inhomogeneities (fractures) of various complex shapes and spatial orientations has been implemented. The description of the developed mathematical models of fractures, which can be used for the numerical solution of exploration seismology problems, is given. The developed models are based on the concept of an infinitely thin fracture, the size of the opening of which does not affect the wave processes in the fracture area. In this model, fractures are represented by boundaries and contact boundaries with different conditions on their surfaces. This approach significantly reduces the need for computational resources by eliminating the need to define a mesh inside the fracture. On the other hand, it allows you to specify in detail the shape of fractures in the integration domain, therefore, using the considered approach, one can observe qualitatively new effects, such as the formation of diffracted waves and a multiphase wavefront due to multiple reflections between the surfaces, which are inaccessible for observation when using effective fracture models actively used in computational seismic. The obtained results of mathematical modeling were verified by physical modeling methods, and a good agreement was obtained.
Mathematical modeling of temperature changes impact on artificial ice islands
Authors:   Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Muratov Maxim V. , Biryukov Vladimir A. ,   Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Konov Denis S. ,   Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Petrov Igor B. ,   Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
Published: March 2021

The article is devoted to the numerical solution of the Stefan problem for thermal effects on an artificial ice island. For modern tasks of the development of the Arctic, associated with the exploration and production of minerals, it is important to create artificial ice islands in the Arctic shelf, due to the speed of their construction, economic feasibility and other factors. The most important task for the exploitation of such islands is their stability, including against melting. This paper discusses the issue of the stability of ice islands to melting. For this, the Stefan problem on the change in the phase state of matter is formulated. An enthalpy solution method is constructed, and the applicability of this method is considered. For the numerical solution, the Peasman-Reckford scheme is used, which is unconditionally spectrally stable in the two-dimensional case, which allows to freely choose the time step. In addition, the developed approach takes into account the flow of water and the flow of melted water, which is important in the task at hand. The developed computational algorithms are parallelized for use on modern multiprocessor computing systems An approach is implemented for modeling thermal processes in the thickness of an arbitrary mass of substances, taking into account arbitrary initial conditions, environmental conditions, tidal currents of water, and solar radiation. This approach was used to calculate the temperature distribution in the thickness of the ice island, as well as to study the impact of seasonal temperature changes on the stability of the island.
TICKED OFF, BUT SCARED OFF? RIOTS AND THE FATE OF NONVIOLENT CAMPAIGNS*
Authors: Abbs Luke , Gleditsch Kristian Skrede
Published: March 2021

Research on the relationship between nonviolent and violent dissent has focused on explicit shifts in organized strategies, disregarding less-organized forms of violence such as riots. Even though disorganized violence is common, we know little about how it influences the onset and fate of antigovernment nonviolent campaigns. Activists frequently argue that nonviolent discipline is essential and disorganized violence is counterproductive for effective large-scale mobilization. However, others emphasize how disorganized violence could have a mobilizing effect on large-scale protest and revitalize a nonviolent campaign. We detail these competing perspectives on how riots can influence the onset and outcomes of nonviolent campaigns. We then evaluate these contending claims empirically by examining how riots affect the initial emergence of nonviolent campaigns and the likelihood that campaigns will terminate. We find that nonviolent mobilization is less likely to emerge after riots, and ongoing campaigns are more likely to collapse under higher rates of rioting.
THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF ESCALATED REPRESSION*
Authors: Ellefsen Rune
Published: March 2021

This article examines the unpredictable consequences of escalated repression on the dynamics of contention. By examining sequences of interactions among contenders in the course of one conflict, analysis traces pathways through which the escalation of repression impacts activists and protest targets in ways that seemingly go against the intentions of repressive agents. Three types of outcomes of repression are identified: a worse situation for protest targets; triggered radicalization; and a “chilling effect” on lawful protest. This article contributes by demonstrating a temporally sensitive approach that traces how certain pathways combine to produce these unintended outcomes. The empirical case studied is the life cycle (1999–2014) of the British conflict between the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty animal rights campaign and the Huntingdon Life Sciences corporation, which also involved the government, criminal justice agencies, and private businesses.
DNA Fingerprinting and Genetic Diversity Assessment of GM Cotton Genotypes for Protection of Plant Breeder Rights
Authors: Jamil Shakra
Published: March 2021

DNA fingerprinting is rapid, easy, and efficient method for discrimination, identification and characterization of various genotypes for protection of plant breeder’s rights (PBRs). Present study was designed for DNA fingerprinting and genetic diversity assessment of 25 GM cotton genotypes (possessing Cry1Ac gene) using 297 SSR markers through conventional PCR and Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Out of 297 SSR markers, 25 markers were not amplified, 28 were monomorphic and 244 were polymorphic. A total of 1537 alleles were amplified among which 1294 (84.18%) were polymorphic. PIC value in our study ranged from 0.08 to 0.93 with an average of 0.73. Unique allelic pattern was observed for nineteen genotypes whereas six genotypes were identified using two-step identification methods. The UPGMA dendrogram divided the genotypes into two distinct clusters. Cluster I was comprised of 20 genotypes whereas cluster II was comprised of four genotypes. MNH-1020 did not obey any clustering and remained separated. The results of the structure analysis were complementary to cluster analysis and the population was divided into two subgroups. Our results evidenced narrow genetic base of the cotton genotypes cultivated in Punjab Pakistan due to use of common parents in the pedigree/parentage. Further, we proposed a core set of markers for future DNA fingerprinting and genetic diversity studies. The information generated in this study will be helpful in variety registration and subsequent protection under PBRs. Further our findings will be useful in selection of SSR markers for future studies which are focused on DNA fingerprinting and genetic diversity assessment. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Characterization of Genes Involved in γ-Aminobutyric Acid Metabolic Pathways Response to Metabolites Accumulation in Embryos during Barley Germination
Authors: Jin Mengyuan
Published: March 2021

To reveal the key enzyme genes involved in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolic pathways response to elevated metabolite storage in embryos during barley germination, this study investigated the GABA content, cloned GABA metabolic pathway genes and analyzed their expression levels, respectively. In barley embryos, GABA content continued to rise during the soaking process and then decreased after the germination. Three genes including glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), GABA transaminase (GABA-T) and succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) involved in the GABA pathway were cloned and characterized from the barley embryos, respectively. Before the germination, the expression of GAD gene was up-regulated, while GABA-T gene expression was down-regulated. After the germination, GAD gene expression was lowered, but GABA-T gene expression was rapidly increased. The SSADH gene expression remained stable after soaking of 4 h, and then down-regulated. There is evidence that the high GABA content in germinating barley seeds is parallel with the upregulation of the GAD gene, and down-regulation of GABA-T gene. These results indicate that the expression level of the genes involved in GABA pathway is a crucial factor in GABA accumulation during soaking and germination. This study is beneficial for the development of GABA-rich barley products by germination. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Knockdown of Novel lncRNA TCONS_00028652 in Zebrafish Affects Embryonic Vasculature Development
Authors: Zhou Chune
Published: March 2021

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are increasingly being regard as potential key regulators of biological process, however, little is known about the function of most of them. The involvement of a novel lncRNA (ENSDART000000150571), previously named TCONS_00028652, in intersegmental vessel development was investigated in this study. TCONS_00028652, having a single exon (568 bp), is located in chromosome 16 at position from 15786804 to 15786237, which was previously identified as an embryonic and adult heart-enrichedlncRNA. Bioinformatics analysis and annotation of TCONS_00028652 was performed using online databases. Its protein-coding potential was assessed using online softwares: the Coding Potential Assessing Tool (CPAT) and the Coding Potential Calculator (CPC). To verify its real existence, a cloned fragment was proliferated by designing primers against 5’ and 3’ exon-flanking sequence. Subsequently, spatiotemporal expression during zebrafish embryonic development was determined using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and whole mount in situ hybridization. We found that lncRNA TCONS_00028652 was generally expressed throughout early stages of zebrafish embryonic development and predominantly in embryonic brain, tail, and heart. Knockdown of TCONS_00028652 using morpholino oligonucleotides (MO) resulted in intersegmental vessel defects, suggesting that TCONS_00028652 is indispensable for embryonic vascular development in zebrafish. Using Tg (flil:EGFP) transgenic fish expressing a cardiovascular marker gene, loss of function experiments confirmed that TCONS_00028652 was involved in embryonic intersegmental vessel development. Our results may lead to valuable understanding of lncRNAs functions in zebrafish embryonic development and molecular mechanisms of embryonic cardiovascular development. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers
Crítica da idea de desenvolvemento sostible como proposta pedagóxica
Authors: Enríquez Sánchez José María
Published: March 2021

A contribución da Universidade, e demais instancias educativas formais, para a creación dunha cidadanía global en torno aos Obxectivos de Desenvolvemento Sostible pasa necesariamente por dar cabida ás formulacións críticas que intentan enfrontar as contrariedades que destes plans derívanse. Pola contra, a desatención cara a este tipo de discursos, como veremos, dificulta a posibilidade de ofrecer alternativas para tratar de corrixir as crecentes situacións inxustas (e desestabilizadoras) no sociopolítico e potencialmente catastróficas no ecolóxico, debido, en boa medida á perda do sentido propio da idea de desenvolvemento sostenible que aquí pretendemos recuperar.
Educación Social e Educación Ambiental: Análise de propostas ambientais nas carreiras de montaña
Authors: Villaverde Doval Javier
Published: March 2021

A educación social e a educación ambiental perseguen o benestar da sociedade actual e das futuras. O interese deste traballo centrase no impacto do deporte, mais concretamente as carreiras de montaña no medio natural. A metodoloxía seguida no traballo responde á investigación cualitativa a través da análise documental de fontes primarias e secundarias. A motivación deste tema débese o aumento do número de corredores de montaña, o cal ten unha tendencia clara nos últimos anos. EUROPARC-España calcula que cerca de 700.000 persoas corren anualmente por espazos naturais singulares. Analizarase os documentos que regulan este tipo de actividades para identificar propostas de conservación e  solucións para o impacto provocado polas carreiras de montaña: Protocolo Medioambiental da FEDME, Manual sobre deporte e medio ambiente do COI, Proposta e accións da Estratexia Nacional sobre Deporte e Sustentabilidade, Propostas de medidas de xestión ambiental para a sustentabilidade das carreiras por montaña en espazos naturais protexidos da UAM e Manual 12 de EUROPARC-España: Guía de boas prácticas para desenvolvemento de carreiras por montaña en espazos naturais protexidos.
A variable morfolóxica animais / animaes / animás / animales / animals no galego contemporáneo
Authors: Mariño Paz Ramón
Published: March 2021

Neste traballo analízase como o purismo e a estandarización influíron no moderno desenvolvemento dunha variable morfolóxica da lingua galega: o plural dos nomes polisílabos agudos terminados en /-l/ no singular.
Reorganização concetual e variação linguística no Português Europeu: o caso do verbo meter
Authors: Teixeira José
Published: March 2021

Este artigo procurará descrever a forma como, a nível semântico e tomando o caso do verbo meter no Português Europeu, a variação linguística surge a partir da reorganização de uma estrutura concetual. Pretendemos mostrar como a estrutura semântica mais clássica do verbo que implicava a noção de [+interioridade] e Local Contentor se está a reorganizar fazendo desaparecer esta vertente que constituía um dos pilares nucleares do significado. Para a referida demonstração utilizaremos os dados resultantes de inquéritos envolvendo falantes entre os 10 e os 21 anos. Propor-se-á, igualmente, uma análise linguístico-cognitiva que explique a alteração da estrutura interna da semântica de meter.
Recensión: Lorenzo Grandín, Pilar / Marcenaro, Simone: Il canzoniere del trovatore Roi Queimado
Authors: González Lousada Francisco
Published: March 2021

Recensión: Lorenzo Grandín, Pilar / Marcenaro, Simone: Il canzoniere del trovatore Roi Queimado, Alessandria, Edizioni dell’Orso, 2010, 350 pp.