bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute Effects of Different Postactivation Potentiation Protocols on Traditional Rowing Performance
Authors: Penichet-Tomas Alfonso , Jimenez-Olmedo Jose M. , Serra Torregrosa Luis , Pueo Basilio
Published: December 2020

Postactivation potentiation (PAP) describes an initial muscular activation with a submaximal or maximal load intensity that produces acute improvements in muscle power and performance in subsequent explosive activities. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of different PAP protocols in rowing performance. A crossover design involving seven rowers was used, in which two different PAP protocols were applied: PAP of maximal conditioning contractions (PAP MCC) on a rowing ergometer to provide greater transferability and, thus, enhance the magnitude of PAP stimuli on subsequent rowing performance; and PAP of maximal strength contractions (PAP MSC) in half squat and bench pull exercises, similar to the main exercises in rowing strength training, to perform a 20 s “all-out” test simulating a competition start. Student’s t-test was used to compare means of the variables (p < 0.05). Effect size statistics were calculated using Cohen’s d. The PAP MCC protocol resulted in significant differences, with an extremely large effect size in average power output (p = 0.034, d = 0.98) in the first 3 (p = 0.019, d = 1.15) and first 5 (p = 0.036, d = 0.91) strokes. This group also reached a greater number of strokes (p = 0.049, d = 2.29) and strokes per minute (p = 0.046, d = 1.15). PAP with maximal conditioning contractions in rowing warm-up enhanced subsequent rowing sprint and is an advisable strategy to potentiate performance at the start of rowing competitions and sprint regattas.
The Problems and Needs of Patients Diagnosed with Cancer and Their Caregivers
Authors: Lewandowska Anna , Rudzki Grzegorz , Lewandowski Tomasz , Rudzki Sławomir
Published: December 2020

(1) Background: As the literature analysis shows, cancer patients experience a variety of different needs. Each patient reacts differently to the hardships of the illness. Assessment of needs allows providing more effective support, relevant to every person’s individual experience, and is necessary for setting priorities for resource allocation, for planning and conducting holistic care, i.e., care designed to improve a patient’s quality of life in a significant way. (2) Patients and Methods: A population survey was conducted between 2018 and 2020. Cancer patients, as well as their caregivers, received an invitation to take part in the research, so their problems and needs could be assessed. (3) Results: The study involved 800 patients, 78% women and 22% men. 66% of the subjects were village residents, while 34%—city residents. The mean age of patients was 62 years, SD = 11.8. The patients received proper treatment within the public healthcare. The surveyed group of caregivers was 88% women and 12% men, 36% village residents and 64% city residents. Subjects were averagely 57 years old, SD 7.8. At the time of diagnosis, the subjects most often felt anxiety, despair, depression, feelings of helplessness (46%, 95% CI: 40–48). During illness and treatment, the subjects most often felt fatigued (79%, 95% CI: 70–80). Analysis of needs showed that 93% (95% CI: 89–97) of patients experienced a certain level of need for help in one or more aspects. (4) Conclusions: Patients diagnosed with cancer have a high level of unmet needs, especially in terms of psychological support and medical information. Their caregivers also experience needs and concerns regarding the disease. Caregivers should be made aware of the health consequences of cancer and consider appropriate supportive care for their loved ones.
The Impact of Urbanization on Ecosystem Health in Typical Karst Areas: A Case Study of Liupanshui City, China
Authors: Zhao Yangling , Han Rui , Cui Nan , Yang Jingbiao , Guo Luo
Published: December 2020

The karst region of Southwest China is one of the largest continuous karst areas in the world, and the ecosystem in the karst region is extremely fragile. The city of Liupanshui, a typical karst area in southwestern China, has provided the main energy and raw materials during China’s rapid urbanization in the past few decades. With the continuous deterioration of the environment in Liupanshui and from the viewpoint of sustainable development strategies, research on ecosystem health (ESH) and the assessments of correlations between urbanization and ESH plays an important role in regional sustainable eco-environmental development. Therefore, the impact of urbanization on the ecosystem health of the study area was discussed in this study using a series of remote sensing images and socio-economic data from 1990 to 2015. Studies showed that Liupanshui is undergoing rapid urbanization, and the growth of urbanized land reached a peak between 2010 and 2015. From 1990 to 2015, the level of ESH in Liupanshui trended downward and then increased. During 2000 to 2010, due to the policy of returning farmland to grassland and forestland, the substantial increase in woodland and grassland and the management policy of mining areas have caused a turn in ESH. Although the value of ecosystem health in 2010–2015 increased, the process of urbanization is rapid, so we should pay more attention to the trend in future ecosystem health changes. The findings revealed that urbanization significantly negatively affects the ecosystem health of Liupanshui, and mining has the greatest impact. Therefore, in future urban development, strengthening the management of resource extraction and the supervision of environmental protection, continuing to return farmland to grassland and forestry, and controlling rocky desertification can improve the health of the urban ecosystem in the study area.
The Effect of Emotional Dissonance and Mental Load on Need for Recovery and Work Engagement among Italian Fixed-Term Researchers
Authors: Pace Francesco , Sciotto Giulia
Published: December 2020

Although many studies have been conducted to evaluate the risk and protective factors on psychological health among academic staff, little attention has been paid to fixed-term researchers, the weakest figures in the academic context. By using the Job Demands–Resources model as theoretical framework, we investigated: (1) the role of some job demands (workload, mental load, and emotional dissonance) in predicting the need for recovery; (2) the role of some job resources (independence, career opportunities, and work–life balance) in predicting work engagement; and (3) the moderating role of the contract type (more or less precarious). We focused in particular on emotional dissonance (the discrepancy between emotions that need to be displayed and what is really felt), assuming its unique role in predicting fatigue. Results of structural equation modeling analysis generally supported our hypotheses and highlighted a so far undiscovered path between mental load and work engagement. Specifically, mental load leads to fatigue only indirectly through workload and emotional dissonance, while significantly predicting the absorption and the dedication of fixed-term Italian researchers. The latter relationship was also moderated by the contract type, so that mental load predicts dedication especially among researchers in the most precarious condition.
Chronic Effects of a High Sucrose Diet on Murine Gastrointestinal Nutrient Sensor Gene and Protein Expression Levels and Lipid Metabolism
Authors: O’Brien Patrick , Han Ge , Ganpathy Priya , Pitre Shweta , Zhang Yi , Ryan John , Sim Pei Ying , Harding Scott V. , Gray Robert , Preedy Victor R. , Sanders Thomas A. B. , Corpe Christopher P.
Published: December 2020

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) plays a key role in regulating nutrient metabolism and appetite responses. This study aimed to identify changes in the GIT that are important in the development of diet related obesity and diabetes. GIT samples were obtained from C57BL/6J male mice chronically fed a control diet or a high sucrose diet (HSD) and analysed for changes in gene, protein and metabolite levels. In HSD mice, GIT expression levels of fat oxidation genes were reduced, and increased de novo lipogenesis was evident in ileum. Gene expression levels of the putative sugar sensor, slc5a4a and slc5a4b, and fat sensor, cd36, were downregulated in the small intestines of HSD mice. In HSD mice, there was also evidence of bacterial overgrowth and a lipopolysaccharide activated inflammatory pathway involving inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In Caco-2 cells, sucrose significantly increased the expression levels of the nos2, iNOS and nitric oxide (NO) gas levels. In conclusion, sucrose fed induced obesity/diabetes is associated with changes in GI macronutrient sensing, appetite regulation and nutrient metabolism and intestinal microflora. These may be important drivers, and thus therapeutic targets, of diet-related metabolic disease.
Antiproliferative Effects of St. John’s Wort, Its Derivatives, and Other Hypericum Species in Hematologic Malignancies
Authors: Allegra Alessandro , Tonacci Alessandro , Spagnolo Elvira Ventura , Musolino Caterina , Gangemi Sebastiano
Published: December 2020

Hypericum is a widely present plant, and extracts of its leaves, flowers, and aerial elements have been employed for many years as therapeutic cures for depression, skin wounds, and respiratory and inflammatory disorders. Hypericum also displays an ample variety of other biological actions, such as hypotensive, analgesic, anti-infective, anti-oxidant, and spasmolytic abilities. However, recent investigations highlighted that this species could be advantageous for the cure of other pathological situations, such as trigeminal neuralgia, as well as in the treatment of cancer. This review focuses on the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), its derivatives, and other Hypericum species in hematologic malignancies. Hypericum induces apoptosis in both myeloid and lymphoid cells. Other Hypericum targets include matrix metalloproteinase-2, vascular endothelial growth factor, and matrix metalloproteinase-9, which are mediators of cell migration and angiogenesis. Hypericum also downregulates the expression of proteins that are involved in the resistance of leukemia cells to chemotherapeutic agents. Finally, Hypericum and its derivatives appear to have photodynamic effects and are candidates for applications in tumor photodynamic therapy. Although the in vitro studies appear promising, controlled in vivo studies are necessary before we can hypothesize the introduction of Hypericum and its derivatives into clinical practice for the treatment of hematologic malignancies.
Characterisation at the Bonding Zone between Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Repair Materials (GRM) and Ordinary Portland Cement Concrete (OPCC)
Authors: Zailani Warid Wazien Ahmad , Abdullah Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri , Arshad Mohd Fadzil , Razak Rafiza Abd , Tahir Muhammad Faheem Mohd , Zainol Remy Rozainy Mohd Arif , Nabialek Marcin , Sandu Andrei Victor , Wysłocki Jerzy J. , Błoch Katarzyna
Published: December 2020

In recent years, research and development of geopolymers has gained significant interest in the fields of repairs and restoration. This paper investigates the application of a geopolymer as a repair material by implementation of high-calcium fly ash (FA) as a main precursor, activated by a sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solution. Three methods of concrete substrate surface preparation were cast and patched: as-cast against ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPCC), with drilled holes, wire-brushed, and left as-cast against the OPCC grade 30. This study indicated that FA-based geopolymer repair materials (GRMs) possessed very high bonding strength at early stages and that the behavior was not affected significantly by high surface treatment roughness. In addition, the investigations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy have revealed that the geopolymer repair material became chemically bonded to the OPC concrete substrate, due to the formation of a C–A–S–H gel. Fundamentally, the geopolymer network is composed of tetrahedral anions (SiO4)4− and (AlO4)5− sharing the oxygen, which requires positive ions such as Na+, K+, Li+, Ca2+, Na+, Ba2+, NH4+, and H3O+. The availability of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) at the surface of the OPCC substrate, which was rich in calcium ions (Ca2+), reacted with the geopolymer; this compensated the electron vacancies of the framework cavities at the bonding zone between the GRM and the OPCC substrate.
Fatigue Crack Initiation and Propagation at High Temperature of New-Generation Bearing Steel
Authors: Wu Zhiwei , Yang Maosheng , Zhao Kunyu
Published: December 2020

The new generation of bearing steel has good comprehensive properties, which can satisfy most of the requirements of bearing steel in a complex environment. In the presented work, fatigue properties of 15Cr14Co12Mo5Ni2 bearing steel have been investigated by means of rotating bending fatigue tests on smooth bar specimens after carburization and heat treatment. Optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and Image-Pro Plus software were used to analyze the fracture, microstructure, and carbides. The results suggest that the fatigue strength at room temperature and 500 °C is 1027 MPa and 585 MPa, respectively. Scanning electron micrographic observations on the fracture surface of the fatigue specimens at 500 °C show that fatigue cracks usually initiate from voids in the carburized case and oxide layer on the surface of steel. The failure mode in the carburized case is a quasi-cleavage fracture, and with the increase of crack propagation depth, the failure mode gradually changes to fatigue and creep-fatigue interaction. With the increase of the distance from the surface, the size of the martensite block decreases and the fracture surface shows great fluctuation.
Childbearing Age Women Characteristics in Latin America. Building Evidence Bases for Early Prevention. Results from the ELANS Study
Authors: Herrera-Cuenca Marianella , Previdelli Agatha , Koletzko Berthold , Hernandez Pablo , Landaeta-Jimenez Maritza , Sifontes Yaritza , Gómez Georgina , Kovalskys Irina , García Martha , Pareja Rossina , Cortés Lilia , Rigotti Attilio , Fisberg Mauro ,   on behalf of the ELANS Study Group
Published: December 2020

Latin American (LA) women have been exposed to demographic and epidemiologic changes that have transformed their lifestyle, with increasing sedentary and unhealthy eating behaviors. We aimed to identify characteristics of LA women to inform public policies that would benefit these women and their future children. The Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (ELANS) is a multicenter cross-sectional study of representative samples in eight Latin American countries (n = 9218) with a standardized protocol to investigate dietary intake, anthropometric variables, physical activity, and socioeconomic characteristics. Here we included the subsample of all 3254 women of childbearing age (15 to <45 years). The majority of ELANS women had a low socioeconomic status (53.5%), had a basic education level (56.4%), had a mostly sedentary lifestyle (61.1%), and were overweight or obese (58.7%). According to the logistic multiple regression model, living in Peru and Ecuador predicts twice the risk of being obese, and an increased neck circumference is associated with a 12-fold increased obesity risk. An increased obesity risk was also predicted by age <19 years (Relative Risk (RR) 19.8) and adequate consumption of vitamin D (RR 2.12) and iron (RR 1.3). In conclusion, the identification of these risk predictors of obesity among Latin American women may facilitate targeted prevention strategies focusing on high-risk groups to promote the long-term health of women and their children.
Nutraceutical Strategies for Suppressing NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation: Pertinence to the Management of COVID-19 and Beyond
Authors: McCarty Mark F. , Iloki Assanga Simon Bernard , Lewis Luján Lidianys , O’Keefe James H. , DiNicolantonio James J.
Published: December 2020

Inflammasomes are intracellular protein complexes that form in response to a variety of stress signals and that serve to catalyze the proteolytic conversion of pro-interleukin-1β and pro-interleukin-18 to active interleukin-1β and interleukin-18, central mediators of the inflammatory response; inflammasomes can also promote a type of cell death known as pyroptosis. The NLRP3 inflammasome has received the most study and plays an important pathogenic role in a vast range of pathologies associated with inflammation—including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, the complications of diabetes, neurological and autoimmune disorders, dry macular degeneration, gout, and the cytokine storm phase of COVID-19. A consideration of the molecular biology underlying inflammasome priming and activation enables the prediction that a range of nutraceuticals may have clinical potential for suppressing inflammasome activity—antioxidants including phycocyanobilin, phase 2 inducers, melatonin, and N-acetylcysteine, the AMPK activator berberine, glucosamine, zinc, and various nutraceuticals that support generation of hydrogen sulfide. Complex nutraceuticals or functional foods featuring a number of these agents may find utility in the prevention and control of a wide range of medical disorders.
Shear Stress-Triggered Deformation of Microparticles in a Tapered Microchannel
Authors: Park Cheolheon , Bae Junghyun , Choi Yeongjae , Park Wook
Published: December 2020

We demonstrate that it is possible to produce microparticles with high deformability while maintaining a high effective volume. For significant particle deformation, a particle must have a void region. The void fraction of the particle allows its deformation under shear stress. Owing to the importance of the void fraction in particle deformation, we defined an effective volume index (V*) that indicates the ratio of the particle’s total volume to the volumes of the void and material structures. We chose polyethylene glycol diacrylate (Mn ~ 700) for the fabrication of the microparticles and focused on the design of the particles rather than the intrinsic softness of the material (E). We fabricated microparticles with four distinct shapes: discotic, ring, horseshoe, and spiral, with various effective volume indexes. The microparticles were subjected to shear stress as they were pushed through a tapered microfluidic channel to measure their deformability. The deformation ratio R was introduced as R = 1−Wdeformed/Doriginal to compare the deformability of the microparticles. We measured the deformation ratio by increasing the applied pressure. The spiral-shaped microparticles showed a higher deformation ratio (0.901) than those of the other microparticles at the same effective volume index.
Accessibility and Sustainability of Hybrid Energy Systems for a Cement Factory in Oman
Authors: Beitelmal Wesam H. , Okonkwo Paul C. , Al Housni Fadhil , Alruqi Wael , Alruwaythi Omar
Published: December 2020

Diesel generators are being used as a source of electricity in different parts of the world. Because of the significant expense in diesels cost and the requirement for a greener domain, such electric generating systems appear not to be efficient and environmentally friendly and should be tended to. This paper explores the attainability of utilizing a sustainable power source based on a cross-breed electric system in the cement factory in Salalah, Oman. The HOMER software that breaks down the system setup was utilized to examine the application and functional limitations of each hybridized plan. The result showed that a renewable-energy (RE)-based system has a lower cost of energy (COE) and net present cost (NPC) compared to diesel generator-based hybrid electric and standalone systems. Although the two pure renewable hybrid energy systems considered in this study displayed evidence of no emissions, lower NPC and COE values are observed in the photovoltaic/battery (PV/B) hybrid energy system compared with photovoltaic/wind turbine/battery (PV/WT/B). The PV/WT/B and PV/B systems have higher electricity production and low NPC and COE values. Moreover, the PV/B has the highest return on investment (ROI) and internal rate of return (IRR), making the system the most economically viable and adjudged to be a better candidate for rural community electrification demands.
Understanding the Tourists’ Spatio-Temporal Behavior Using Open GPS Trajectory Data: A Case Study of Yuanmingyuan Park (Beijing, China)
Authors: Yao Qian , Shi Yong , Li Hai , Wen Jiahong , Xi Jianchao , Wang Qingwei
Published: December 2020

The visit paths, dwell time, and taking pictures are all variables of great significance to our understanding of tourists’ spatio-temporal behavior. Does having a large number of visitors mean that tourists are interested in a tourist location? What is the relationship between the dwell time and taking pictures? Are there differences in tourist behavior in different seasons? These issues are of great significance to tourism research but they have not been rigorously analyzed yet. This paper aims to understand the relationship between tourists’ visit path, dwell time, and taking pictures, and test whether there are differences in tourist behavior in different seasons. We used open global positioning systems (GPS) trajectory data at Yuanmingyuan Park from January 2014 to August 2020. Using Python and ArcGIS tools, we found hot spots of tourist passing, hot spots of tourist gathering, high average dwell time areas, and tourist interest areas. It is further found that: (1) passenger flow strongly explains dwell time, while the correlation between passenger flow and average dwell time is weak. (2) There was a close relationship between tourists’ stay and photo-taking behavior, which provided a theoretical basis for defining tourist photo behavior as tourists’ stay behavior. (3) Seasons did not significantly affect tourist behavior in Yuanmingyuan Park. This study presents a grid-based open GPS trajectory data processing framework that clarified the potential of an open GPS trajectory in tourist behavior research. Furthermore, our study explored the relationship between essential indicators and found that there is a strong consistency in tourist behavior across seasons.
Healthy Diet Assistance for the Most Deprived in Post-Crisis Greece: An Evaluation of the State Food Provision Program
Authors: Vlassopoulos Antonis , Filippou Konstantina , Pepa Aleks , Malisova Olga , Xenaki Dimitra , Kapsokefalou Maria
Published: December 2020

In 2016, the European Union set up the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) as its first structured food provision program to combat food insecurity. Computational analysis and a cross-sectional survey took place from January 2016 to June 2018 to calculate FEAD’s contribution to its beneficiaries’ diets and to collect beneficiary satisfaction data. Dairy, fresh meat, legumes, sugar, olive oil, and tomato concentrate were the most commonly procured items. The program’s contribution to vegetable, dairy, and grains intake was 3.4%, 6.1%, and 6.0%, respectively, as opposed to discretionary calories (12.2%) and fats/oils (24.5%). The program’s algorithm greatly favors (almost 3-fold) single-person applications, compared with applications with four or more people. Beneficiaries valued each food provision at 21.23 ± 23.4 euros, which, for 64.4% of them, translated to a high positive impact on the household budget. FEAD had a highly positive impact on feelings of anxiety and security, for 50.7% and 41.6% of its beneficiaries. Satisfaction with the foods provided was also high for ~70% of the beneficiaries. The program is met with high beneficiary satisfaction and is perceived as a substantial assistance. Increases in the amounts and variety of foods delivered, with a focus on fruit, vegetables, and fish, should be considered to further improve the program’s dietary impact.
The Effects of Expected Benefits on Image, Desire, and Behavioral Intentions in the Field of Drone Food Delivery Services after the Outbreak of COVID-19
Authors: Hwang Jinsoo , Kim Hyunjoon
Published: December 2020

Food delivery services using drones have emerged, but there is not much research on it. Thus, this study was designed to examine how to form behavioral intentions based on the concept of expected benefits in the field of drone food delivery services. More specifically, this study proposed the five dimensions of expected benefits, such as compatibility, social influence, convenience, function, and emotion, have a positive influence on image. In addition, it was proposed that image has a positive influence on desire, which in turn positively affects behavioral intentions. Lastly, this study hypothesized the moderating role of gender in this process. To achieve this purpose, 343 responses were collected in South Korea. The data analysis results showed that five dimensions of expected benefits, such as compatibility, social influence, convenience, function, and emotion have a positive influence on image. In addition, the image aids to enhance desire, which in turn positively affects behavioral intentions. Lastly, gender moderated the relationship between desire and behavioral intentions. The important theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed later in the paper.
The Impact of Organic Fertilizer Produced with Vegetable Residues in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Cultivation and Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Cavalheiro Tamara Righetti Tupini , Alcoforado Raquel de Oliveira , Silva Vinicius Soares de Abreu , Coimbra Pedro Paulo Saldanha , Mendes Nathânia de Sá , Cavalcanti Elisa D´avila Costa , Jurelevicius Diogo de Azevedo , Gonçalves Édira Castello Branco de Andrade
Published: December 2020

Large amounts of organic waste are produced worldwide. This work aims to evaluate the influence of organic fertilizers, onion peel flour (OPF) and fruit and vegetable flour (FVF) on lettuce cultivation. Lettuce seeds were planted in pure soil (P), P with 10% OPF, and P with 3% FVF. Soil and lettuce leaves were analyzed. The addition of OPF and FVF improved soil quality but only in the soil with FVF was there significant lettuce growth and increase of antioxidant activity: Folin (8.89 mg EAG/g FM), FRAP (1.31 mg Fe2+/g FM), ABTS (4.09 mg TEAC/g−1 FM) and ORAC (0.52 mg TEac/g−1 FM). The present results show an improvement in lettuce nutritional quality and the potential of FVF as an organic fertilizer.
Assessing Social Sustainability for Achieving Sustainable Architecture
Authors: Lami Isabella M. , Mecca Beatrice
Published: December 2020

Sustainability is an inherent urban and architectural problem. It is simultaneously characterized by many different dimensions, pursuing heterogeneous and often conflicting objectives. To help address these complexities in a structured way, this paper illustrates an integrated assessment framework to tackle social sustainability, in order to support the decision-making process towards sustainable architecture. This integrated decision support framework was applied to a case study concerning a new cultural centre at the Politecnico di Torino in Italy. The aim of this paper is to propose a decision support methodological framework for the analysis, graphical visualization and evaluation of social sustainability of architectural projects. It combines three methods: first, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis, to get a guided understanding of the project and detect the best design strategies; second, the Stakeholder Analysis (SA), to develop a strategic view of the actors involved; third, the Social Return of the Investment (SROI) as a methodological tool for social impact assessment. This framework, presented through the discussion of some project solutions, helps us to analyse the architectural material effect of social sustainability and answer the question: Are we investing properly and creating spaces sufficiently functional to build better conditions for our community and our city?
Water Scarcity and Sustainability in an Emerging Economy: A Management Perspective for Future
Authors: Zhang Dianxi , Sial Muhammad Safdar , Ahmad Naveed , Filipe António José , Thu Phung Anh , Zia-Ud-Din Malik , Caleiro António Bento
Published: December 2020

Water scarcity is rising as a global issue, because the planet earth is facing a global water crisis, which is considered something that can destroy environmental sustainability of our planet. The fact is that humanity’s demand is depleting natural resources faster than nature can replenish itself; if human habits and unsustainable use of water resources do not change, water scarcity will inevitably intensify and become a major cause of conflict among different nations of the world. The water scarcity issue is a crucial issue but unfortunately it has not received due attention in past. Pakistan, which once was a water abundant country, now facing a situation of water scarcity. Pakistan has a poor irrigation system which results 60% loss of its water; Pakistan uses more water for crop production than other countries. Likewise, the country harvests water from rainfall, rivers, snow, and glaciers. The country is facing a serious water crisis that is caused by different factors, such as changing climatic conditions, rising population, poor irrigation system, poor political will, and rapid urbanization. The water crisis of Pakistan is expected to worsen in coming years. This is a drastic situation which calls for emergency measures. With this background, the present study provides a detailed view of the water situation in the country with challenges to water management. The study also suggests some recommendations for policymakers to improve the water crisis situation in the future.
Modern State of the Pauli Exclusion Principle and the Problems of Its Theoretical Foundation
Authors: Kaplan Ilya G.
Published: December 2020

The Pauli exclusion principle (PEP) can be considered from two aspects. First, it asserts that particles that have half-integer spin (fermions) are described by antisymmetric wave functions, and particles that have integer spin (bosons) are described by symmetric wave functions. It is called spin-statistics connection (SSC). The physical reasons why SSC exists are still unknown. On the other hand, PEP is not reduced to SSC and can be consider from another aspect, according to it, the permutation symmetry of the total wave function can be only of two types: symmetric or antisymmetric. They both belong to one-dimensional representations of the permutation group, while other types of permutation symmetry are forbidden. However, the solution of the Schrödinger equation may have any permutation symmetry. We analyze this second aspect of PEP and demonstrate that proofs of PEP in some wide-spread textbooks on quantum mechanics, basing on the indistinguishability principle, are incorrect. The indistinguishability principle is insensitive to the permutation symmetry of wave function. So, it cannot be used as a criterion for the PEP verification. However, as follows from our analysis of possible scenarios, the permission of states with permutation symmetry more general than symmetric and antisymmetric leads to contradictions with the concepts of particle identity and their independence. Thus, the existence in our Nature particles only in symmetric and antisymmetric permutation states is not accidental, since all symmetry options for the total wave function, except the antisymmetric and symmetric, cannot be realized. From this an important conclusion follows, we may not expect that in future some unknown elementary particles that are not fermions or bosons can be discovered.
Local and Nonlocal Reductions of Two Nonisospectral Ablowitz-Kaup-Newell-Segur Equations and Solutions
Authors: Xu Hai Jing , Zhao Song Lin
Published: December 2020

In this paper, local and nonlocal reductions of two nonisospectral Ablowitz-Kaup-Newell-Segur equations, the third order nonisospectral AKNS equation and the negative order nonisospectral AKNS equation, are studied. By imposing constraint conditions on the double Wronskian solutions of the aforesaid nonisospectral AKNS equations, various solutions for the local and nonlocal nonisospectral modified Korteweg-de Vries equation and local and nonlocal nonisospectral sine-Gordon equation are derived, including soliton solutions and Jordan block solutions. Dynamics of some obtained solutions are analyzed and illustrated by asymptotic analysis.
Evaluation of Two Real-Time, TaqMan Reverse Transcription-PCR Assays for Detection of Rabies Virus in Circulating Variants from Argentina: Influence of Sequence Variation
Authors: Caraballo Diego A. , Lombardo María A. , Becker Paula , Sabio María S. , Lema Cristina , Martínez Leila M. , Beltrán Fernando J. , Li Yu , Cisterna Daniel M.
Published: December 2020

In rabies diagnosis, it is essential to count on a rapid test to give a quick response. The combined sensitivity and robustness of the TaqMan RT-PCR assays (qRT-PCR) have made these methods a valuable alternative for rabies virus (RABV) detection. We conducted a study to compare the applicability of two widely used qRT-PCR assays targeting the nucleoprotein gene (LysGT1 assay) and leader sequences (LN34 qRT-PCR assay) of RABV genomes, in all variants circulating in Argentina. A total of 44 samples obtained from bats, dogs, cattle, and horses, that were previously tested for rabies by FAT and conventional RT-PCR, were used in the study. All variants were successfully detected by the pan-lyssavirus LN34 qRT-PCR assay. The LysGT1 assay failed to detect three bat-related variants. We further sequenced the region targeted by LysGT1 and demonstrated that the presence of three or more mismatches with respect to the primers and probe sequences precludes viral detection. We conclude that the LysGT1 assay is prone to yield variant-dependent false-negative test results, and in consequence, the LN34 assay would ensure more effective detection of RABV in Argentina.
A Method for Analyzing the Effectiveness of Vibration-Reducing Gloves Based on Vibration Power Absorption
Authors: Dong Ren G. , Xu Xueyan S. , Welcome Daniel E. , McDowell Thomas W.
Published: December 2020

The effectiveness of vibration-reducing (VR) gloves is conventionally assessed based on the vibration transmissibility of the gloves. This study proposed a method for analyzing and assessing the effectiveness of VR gloves based on how gloves affect the vibration power absorption (VPA) of the hand–arm system and its distribution. A model of the entire tool–handle–glove–hand–arm system was used to predict the VPA distributed in the glove and across the substructures of the hand–arm system. The ratio of the gloved-VPA and ungloved-VPA in each group of system substructures was calculated and used to quantify VR glove effectiveness, which was termed the VPA-based glove vibration transmissibility in this study. The VPA-based transmissibility values were compared with those determined using to-the-hand and on-the-hand methods. Three types of gloves (ordinary work glove, gel VR glove, and air bubble VR glove) were considered in the modeling analyses. This study made the following findings: the total VPA-based transmissibility spectrum exhibits some similarities with those determined using the other two methods; the VPA-based transmissibility for the wrist–forearm–elbow substructures is identical to that for the upper–arm–shoulder substructures in the model used in this study; each of them is equal to the square of the glove vibration transmissibility determined using the on-the-wrist method or on-the-upper-arm method; the other substructure-specific VPA-based transmissibility spectra exhibit some unique features; the effectiveness of a glove for reducing the overall VPA in the hand–arm system depends on the glove effectiveness for absorbing the vibration energy, which seems to be associated primarily with the glove cushioning materials; the glove may also help protect the fingers or hand by redistributing the VPA across the hand substructures; this redistribution seems to be primarily associated with the glove structural properties, especially the tightness of fit for the glove.
Traditional References of the Modern Ballade by Akses
Authors: KARADENİZ İsmet
Published: December 2020

The pioneer composers of contemporary classical music in the Republic of Turkey (aka Contemporary Turkish Music) created their first musical compositions by incorporating some of the components of traditional Turkish music — scale, rhythm, motif, and style — and abstracted forms thereof. The Ballade, a one-part orchestral piece dating back to 1947, composed by one of the first-generation composers, Necil Kazım Akses, is an example of this approach to composition. Both the concert program notes and various concert criticisms give an idea about the structures of traditional Turkish music in the Ballade. However, the Ballade, as an example of programmatic music, requires a more detailed analysis, especially in terms of motif and rhythm. In this study, which aims to establish the connection between the composition at hand and primarily traditional Turkish music, I examine the composition in terms of rhythm, motif, scale, and style, and the findings are correlated with the original structures of traditional Turkish music. The findings showed that Akses used rhythmic (usûl) abstractions in his work more than the modal (maqam) structures. When examining the modal structure of the work, I also detected that the composer preferred to abstract the motifs exhibited by the maqams, instead of abstracting the maqam structures directly. The study especially reveals Akses’s creative approach to motivic abstraction, with the explanation of how the basic motif of Ballade was created.
Kur'an'ı Yaşamaya Dair
Authors: BİLGİZ Musa
Published: December 2020

Kur’ân-ı Kerîm, düşünme, inanma, amel yani bir davranış kitabıdır. Kur’ân, okuyup anlaşılmak ve yaşam biçimi olmak üzere indirilmiş bir hayat kılavuzudur. Kur’ân’ı doğru okumak, anlamak ve gereklerini yerine getirmek ilahî bir emirdir. Kur’ân’ı sadece telaffuz etmek, hatta anlamak için okumak da yeterli değildir. Asıl olan, onun gereklerini yapmak, bizden istediklerini sosyal hayatımızda yaşamak ve başkalarının örnek alacağı bir rol modele dönüştürmektir. Çünkü Kur’ân’ın tanımladığı Müslüman, ilahî hakikatleri temsil edendir. Kur’ân, yalnızca yaratıcının birliği ve varlığını, ibadetleri, geçmiş toplumların yaşantı ve azap nedenlerini, insanların ölüm ötesi hayatlarını konu edinen bir kitap değildir. O, aynı zamanda, insanların dünya ve ahiret mutluluklarını temin hususunda da yol gösteren bir rehberdir. Kur’ân, kendisini kabul edenlerin inanç, ibadet, kişilik, kimlik, düşünce yapısı ve davranışlarını değiştirerek tevhide göre şekillenmesini ister. Şâyet Kur’ân’a inananların bu özelliklerinde bir değişim meydana gelmiyorsa, burada sorgulanması gereken çok ciddi problemler var demektir.
Şâfiî Tabakât Yazıcılığı (Hicrî V-VII. Asırlar)
Authors: NARİN İsmail
Published: December 2020

Tabakâtü’l-fukahâ, çeşitli kategorilere göre fakihleri gruplandırmak suretiyle biyografilerini anlatan telif türüdür. Mezhep birikimine katkılarıyla tanınan fakihlerin belirlenmesi, tanıtılması ve görüşleri hakkında bilgi verilmesi bu telif türünün temel hedeflerindendir. İctihâd mertebelerinin belirlenerek tercihlerde dikkate alınacak hiyerarşinin tespit edilmesi de bu eserlerin bir diğer amacını oluşturur. Belli bir mezhebe nisbetle anılan fakihlerin hayatlarının anlatıldığı tabakât türü eserlerin telif edilmiş olması, bir fıkıh anlayışının mezhepleşmesinin önemli göstergelerinden kabul edilir. Şâfiî fakihlerin biyografilerini konu edinen tabakât yazıcılığının hicrî V. yüzyılda Ebû Hafs el-Mutavviî ile başladığı ve Ebü’t-Tayyîb et-Taberî ile devam ettiği kaydedilmektedir. Bu literatürün günümüze ulaşmış en eski örneği sayılan Ebû Âsım el-Abbâdî’nin tabakâtından sonra Ebû İshâk eş-Şîrâzî, İbnü’s-Salâh ve Nevevî gibi âlimler tarafından tabakât yazım faaliyeti sürdürülmüştür. Şâfiî tabakât yazıcılığının gelişimine öncülük eden bu derlemeler birbirini tamamlayıcı mahiyette olup biyografiler genellikle kısa tutulmuştur. Ayrıca, hicrî VII. yüzyıla kadar uzanan süreçte yazılan biyografi eserleri, Tâceddin es-Sübkî’yle en mükemmel örneğine kavuşan Şâfiî tabakât yazıcılığının olgunluk dönemi eserlerine de kaynaklık etmiştir. Şâfiî mezhebinde tabakât geleneğinin incelenmesi, mezhebin tarihsel hafızası üzerinde daha yerinde ve sağlıklı okumalara imkân tanımaktadır. Şâfiî fıkhının kaydettiği aşamaların anlaşılması da tabakât eserleriyle bir şekilde irtibatlı olduğunu göz önünde bulundurarak çalışmamızda Şâfiî tabakât yazıcılığının tarihsel süreci, öne çıkan Şâfiî tabakâtları ekseninde incelenmiştir.
Sınıf Öğretmenlerinin Birlikte Çalışma Düzeyleri ve İletişim Becerilerinin İncelenmesi
Authors: ÖZGÖK Define , ÇİFTÇİ Sabahattin
Published: December 2020

Bu araştırmada sınıf öğretmenlerinin iletişim becerileri ile birlikte çalışma düzeylerinin çeşitli değişkenler açısından incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemini Van iline bağlı ilkokullarda görev yapan 192 sınıf öğretmeni oluşturmatadır. Araştırmada toplanan sınıf öğretmenlerinin iletişim becerilerinin, empati, saydamlık, eşitlik, etkililik ve yeterlilik alt boyutlarının ortalamalarının ölçekten alınacak ortalama değerlerin üzerinde olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Sınıf öğretmenlerinin iletişim becerilerine ilişkin alt boyutların, cinsiyete göre karşılaştırılmasında, empati, saydamlık, eşitlik, ve yeterlilik alt boyutları bakımından, cinsiyeti kadın olan öğretmenlerle cinsiyeti erkek olan öğretmenler arasında istatistiksel olarak kadınlar lehine anlamlı bir farklılık bulunmuştur. Etkililik alt boyutunda ise cinsiyet değişkenine göre anlamlı farklılık bulunamamıştır. Sınıf öğretmenlerinin birlikte çalışma yeterliliklerine ilişkin yapılan analizlerden elde edilen bulgulara göre öğretmenlerin birlikte çalışma yeterliliklerinin yüksek olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Sınıf öğretmenlerinin birlikte çalışma yeterlilikleri puan ortalamaları arasında ise görev süresine göre anlamlı düzeyde bir fark bulunmamıştır. Sınıf öğretmenlerinin iletişim ve birlikte çalışma yeterlilikleri arasında anlamlı düzeyde olumlu bir ilişki olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.
Spatiotemporal modeling of nutrient retention in a tropical semi-arid basin
Authors: Raji Saheed Adekunle , Odunuga Shakirudeen , Fasona Mayowa
Published: December 2020

The Sokoto-Rima basin defines the natural and socioeconomic lifeblood of northwestern Nigeria. Its agrarian nature is an indication of significant dependence on the supply of ecosystem services from its various rivers, streams, and wetlands. However, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) constitute a great portion of chemical fertilizers used to enhance crop yields and poor management of these portend great threats for water quality. The overarching objective of this study was to examine the extent of spatial variation of nutrient dynamics in the Sokoto-Rima basin between 1992 and 2015 using the nutrient delivery ratio (NDR) model of InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Service and Tradeoffs) software. Land use/landcover, precipitation, digital elevation, and biophysical variables were the principal datasets employed as model input. The result of the study showed that the surficial N load is almost 15-fold of P in the Sokoto-Rima basin. Over the period of study, cultivated areas and rivers were spatially detected as nutrient sources and sinks respectively. The subsurface nutrient load is dominated by P while the amount of N load is insignificant. The trend of nutrient export is linearly defined: with 0.87% and 1.7% increase in N and P export respectively during 1992-2015. N and P exports vary spatially with a north-south increase-decrease index. Critical length and threshold are highly sensitive to changes in the parameterization of the NDR model. Thus, synergistic cultivation practices such as agroforestry should be extended to existing crop cultivation complexes to curtail nutrient enrichment in the Sokoto-Rima basin and ensure environmental sustainability.
Geçmiş ve Şimdi, Sürgün ve Ütopya: Oscar Wilde'ın Şiirlerinde Nostalji Teması
Authors: ÇAKAR Emre
Published: December 2020

Kelime anlamı “eve dönüş acısı” olarak açıklanan nostalji, daha geniş bir çerçevede geçmişe duyulan özlem anlamıyla da kullanılır. Asla geri getirilemeyecek olan geçmiş yaşantı beraberinde keder duygusunu getirir. Geçmiş yaşantıya saplanan kişiler şimdiki zamanda mutlu olamazlar, dolayısıyla yaşantıları sürgüne dönüşür, geçmiş ise ütopyaya. Geçmiş ve şimdiki zaman arasında sıkışıp kalan kişiler kimlik bunalımı ve varoluş sancısı gibi sorunlarla baş etmek zorunda kalırlar. Benzer izlekleri, Fransa’da üç yılını sürgünde geçiren Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)’ın şiirlerinde görmek mümkündür. Viktorya döneminin ekonomik ve sosyal sıkıntılarla karşılaştığı bir dönemde Wilde toplumsal ve kültürel yapıyı eleştirmiş, antik Yunan ve Roma uygarlıklarını ise yüceltmiştir. Şairin işaret ettiği ideal dünya aynı zamanda sürgün temasının altını çizer. Bu çalışmada “Verona’da,” “Yeni Bir Helen,” “Panthea,” ve “Eros’un Bahçesi” şiirlerindeki nostalji izleğinin, sürgün ve ütopya temalarıyla nasıl bağlantılı olduğu incelenecektir.
A comparative study of charge trapping effect in p-type MoTe2 and WSe2 FETs using pulsed current–voltage measurements
Authors: Yang Jeong Yong , Lee Chan Ho , Oh Young Taek , Ma Jiyeon , Heo Junseok , Yoo Geonwook
Published: December 2020

P-type semiconductors are indispensable for achieving complementary metal oxide semiconductor and integrated circuits based on two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, and tungsten diselenide (WSe2) and molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) are the promising channel materials for PMOS. In this work, we report on the charge trapping effects on hysteretic behavior and field-effect mobility (μ
FE) of the p-type WSe2 and MoTe2 FETs using fast pulsed current–voltage (I–V) measurements. The hysteresis is reduced by nearly 98% via ramped pulsed measurements, and μ
FE is significantly enhanced via single pulse measurements by minimizing the charge trapping. Moreover, WSe2 FETs are found to be more susceptible to the charge trapping effects compared with MoTe2 FETs; WSe2 FETs exhibit more pronounced enhancement of μ
FE and reduction of hysteresis. The intrinsic electrical characteristics of p-type 2D FETs under minimized charge trapping conditions can be investigated using the pulsed I–V characterizations.
Kesesuaian Lahan Pasca Tambang Batu Bara Berdasarkan Data Jasa Ekosistem Penyedia Pangan Di Kabupaten Tanah Laut
Authors: Muhardini Riena Arrizqi , Rahmani Dienny Redha , Setiawan Kiky Permana
Published: December 2020

Aktivitas sebelum dan sesudah penambangan batu bara menimbulkan dampak positif dan negatif. Maka hal ini perlu adanya perubahan fungsi pasca tambang, dimana lahan pasca pertambangan dapat menjadi kawasan yang bermanfaat atau produktif. Studi ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif. teknik pengumpulan data yaitu dengan observasi pada kondisi eksisting lahan pasca tambang batubara. Pengumpulan data lainnya berasal data jasa ekosistem penyedia pangan di Kabupaten Tanah Laut. Metode analisa yang digunakan adalah deskriptif kualitatif. Dapat disimpulkan bahwa lahan pasca tambang batubara di Kabupaten Tanah Laut berpotensi menjadi Kawasan pertanian dan perkebunan. Tinjauan berdasarkan data jasa ekosistem penyedia pangan, yaitu bentuk lahan masuk pada klasifikasi sedang yang berarti lahan tersebut dapat dimanfaatkan untuk kebutuhan pangan, dengan memperhatikan metode-metode penggunaan lahan.
On asymptotically stability, uniformly stability and boundedness of solutions of nonlinear Volterra integro-differential equations
Authors: Tunç C. , Mohammed S. A.
Published: December 2020

UDC 517.9
In this paper, two new Lyapunov functionals are defined. We apply these functionals to get sufficient conditions guaranteeing the asymptotic stability, uniform stability, and boundedness of solutions of certain nonlinear Volterra integro-differential equations of the first order. The results obtained are improvements and extensions of known results that can be found in literature. We also suggest examples to show the applicability of our results and for the sake of illustrations. Using MATLAB-Simulink, in particular cases we clearly show the behavior of orbits of Volterra integro-differential equations under consideration.