bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MEDIAÇÃO E CONCILIAÇÃO
Authors: Reis Maria Theresa Duarte , Faria Alexandra Clara Ferreira
Published: April 2021

Este artigo tem como objetivo comparar os principais aspectos da Mediação e da Conciliação, enquanto meios alternativos de resolução de litígios, entre os Ordenamentos Jurídicos de Brasil e Portugal, de modo a apontar e discorrer acerca das principais diferenças encontradas, as quais são em relação ao princípio da Confidencialidade, ao princípio da Voluntariedade e à Executoriedade dos Acordos. O estudo foi desenvolvido a partir de uma metodologia jurídico-teórica, adotando-se o raciocínio dedutivo com técnicas de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, na primeira parte do trabalho, combinado com análise de dados no capítulo dedicado ao estudo do princípio voluntariedade confrontado à obrigatoriedade desses métodos. Concluiu-se que a Mediação e a Conciliação foram introduzidas no ordenamento pátrio com inconsistências conceituais que repercutem na validade desses institutos perante o sistema normativo como um todo, de modo que a referência portuguesa se faz importante para repensar meios legais de tornar estes institutos juridicamente mais sólidos.
ANTECIPAÇÃO DOS EFEITOS DA TUTELA NOS PROCESSOS DE APOSENTADORIA ESPECIAL À LUZ DO PRINCÍPIO DA DIGNIDADE DA PESSOA HUMANA
Authors: Pádua Mila Christian Batista de , Bernardes Wilba Lúcia Maia
Published: April 2021

Este trabalho tem por objetivo o desenvolvimento por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica e jurisprudencial, de caráter quantitativo e por procedimento dedutivo, analisar o Instituto dasTutelas de Urgência e da apreciação judicial, como um meio processual capaz de garantir a eficácia dos Direitos Fundamentais, no tocante aos casos de Aposentadoria Especial. Nestecontexto, o Instituto das Tutelas de Urgência, seja ela concedida em primeiro grau de jurisdição ou em sede recursal, é capaz de atenuar a morosidade jurisdicional e emconsequência possibilita ao processo constitucional a aplicação do princípio da celeridade, visando dar ao segurado a garantia de seus Direitos Fundamentais, em especial, o Princípioda Dignidade da Pessoa Humana, assegurando o caráter alimentar do benefício previdenciário casos decididos pelos nossos Tribunais.
Proposta de Mecanismo para Replicação de Comportamento de Nuvem para Pesquisa e Reprodutibilidade
Authors: Clementino Douglas , Carmin Mariana , Ditter Alexander , Alves Marco
Published: April 2021

O sistema de nuvem, como importante fornecedor de serviços escaláveis online, trouxe consigo um novo campo de pesquisa. Este trabalho propõe uma ferramenta que efetue o monitoramento, a caracterização e a reprodução das atividades e consumo de CPU, memória RAM e tráfego de rede de um ambiente de nuvem Infrastructure as a Service, apresentando uma solução que apoia a pesquisa e o caráter reprodutível do método cientíﬁco.
Orquestração de Aplicações de Computação de Alta Performance em Ambientes Cloud Conteinerizados
Authors: Varella Lucas , Plentz Patricia , Watanuki Hugo , Baruchi Artur
Published: April 2021

Este trabalho explora a orquestração da plataforma HPCC Systems (High Performance Computing Cluster) em ambientes cloud conteinerizados, com a ferramenta de orquestração Kubernetes. O objetivo do trabalho é avaliar as características, benefícios e desafios da implantação da plataforma HPCC Systems nesse paradigma através de diferentes provedores de cloud pública, especificamente Amazon Web Service (AWS) e Microsoft Azure. Os resultados preliminares sugerem que o paradigma de orquestração traz diversos benefícios para a plataforma em questão, mas suposições estritas sobre persistência de armazenamento de dados e recursos compartilhados específicos ao host, entre outras condições, geram desafios ao tentar levar a tecnologia a este ambiente.
Análise de Desempenho de Redes Neurais Convolucionais Aplicadas ao Reconhecimento de Emoções
Authors: Heck Leandro , Künas Cristiano , Padoin Edson
Published: April 2021

Considerando o crescente interesse no campo da interação humanocomputador e que essa interação vem se tornando algo cada vez mais natural e social, juntamente com o aumento da capacidade computacional proporcionada por GPUs e TPUs, áreas como o reconhecimento de emoções têm se mostrado ser de grande interesse e relevância pela comunidade cientíﬁca. Porém, mesmo com diversos trabalhos realizados, detectar e reconhecer emoções computacionalmente com a mesma facilidade que humanos reconhecem, ainda é um problema relevante a ser explorado. Para tal, buscando explorar esse tema, este trabalho adotou a utilização de Redes Neurais Convolucionais (CNN) na realização do reconhecimento das emoções em humanos a partir de expressões faciais. Os resultados demonstraram que, com o treinamento da CNN em GPUs, foi possível reduzir o tempo computacional em até 94% e aumentar a acurácia para 66%.
Aceleração da Classificação de Lavouras de Milho com MPI e Estratégias de Paralelismo
Authors: Vanzan Anthony , Fim Gabriel , Welter Greice , Griebler Dalvan
Published: April 2021

Este trabalho visou acelerar a execução de um algoritmo de classiﬁcação de lavouras em imagens áreas. Para isso, foram implementadas diferentes versões paralelas usando a biblioteca MPI na linguagem Python. A avaliação foi conduzida em dois ambientes computacionais. Conclui-se que é possível reduzir o tempo de execução a medida que mais recursos paralelos são usados e a estratégia de distribuição de trabalho dinâmica é mais eﬁciente.
Técnicas de otimização em Aceleradores Vetoriais NEC SX-Aurora
Authors: Michels Félix , Serpa Matheus , Carastan-Santos Danilo , Schnorr Lucas , Navaux Phillipe
Published: April 2021

Avalia-se nesse trabalho a utilização de técnicas de otimização clássicas na nova arquitetura NEC SX-Aurora. Utilizou-se como estudo de caso o benchmark NAS e uma aplicação real de migração sísmica, utilizada pela indústria de petróleo e gás. Os resultados experimentais ﬁnais mostram a melhora no desempenho, em FLOPS, utilizando as técnicas de otimização loop unrolling e inlining, no benchmark NAS em até 7, 8× e na aplicação real de migração sísmica em até 1, 9×, em comparação com o desempenho das versões originais.
Interlaminar Strength Analysis of Bonded Carbon Fiber Rods
Authors: VAITKŪNAS Tomas , GRIŠKEVIČIUS Paulius , ŠPAKAUSKAS Kęstutis
Published: April 2021

Interlaminar failure of bonded composite structures is quite often. Nowadays there is a lot of lightweight high reliability carbon or glass fiber (CFRP or GFRP) reinforced polymer composite constructions with bonded carbon or glass fiber rods. In order to better understand the delamination processes of the rods, analytical equations were analyzed. Later, mode I interlaminar failure experiments with CFRP rods 3x3 mm were performed and fracture toughness GIC = 135 J/m2 was found. According to the analytic equations, experiment and values, given literature, finite element model (FEM) of the bonded carbon fiber rods was created in software LS-Dyna. Most of the differences between experimental and simulated force-displacement curves are not higher than 6 % what validates the FEM of the bonded CFRP rods. Also, additional methods, such as peridynamics of the bond area of the rods were analyzed. Offered finite element approach of the bonded CFRP rods is very useful for FEM creation to design and evaluate high reliability CFRP or GFRP constructions.
Inertial Piezoelectric Rotary Motor Based on Low Profile Stator with Trapezoidal Waveguides
Authors: Yang Ying , Čeponis Andrius , Mažeika Dalius , Jūrėnas Vytautas
Published: April 2021

Results of numerical and experimental investigations of a novel inertial piezoelectric rotary type motor based on a low profile stator with trapezoidal waveguides. The proposed motor has a simple design and is well scalable. Moreover, the proposed design of the motor allows mount it on a printed circuit board and use it in a small-size mobile positioning and actuating systems. The structure of the stator is based on a square type hollowed steel frame with four straight trapezoidal waveguides that are used to transfer vibrations of the stator to the rotation of the rotor. Piezo ceramic plates are glued on both sides of the stator. The thickness of the assembled stator is 0.9 mm, while the total area needed for stator mounting does not exceed 625 mm2. The driving of the rotor is based on the stick-slip principle, which is induced by excitation of the second in-plane bending mode of the four bimorph plates applying two saw tooth waveform signals with a phase difference by π. The numerical and experimental investigation was carried out to validate the operation principle of the motor and to measure the mechanical and electrical characteristics. The maximum angular rotation speed of 1304 RPM was achieved at a resonance frequency of 44.81 kHz when a preload of a 7.35mN was applied.
Spor Müzelerinin Dijital Halkla İlişkiler Çalışmalarına Yönelik Bir İnceleme: Beşiktaş JK Müzesi Örneği
Authors: Abrak Esra
Published: April 2021

Spor kulüplerinin bünyesinde, spor tarihine dair tanıklıkları nesilden nesile aktaran ve kulüp tarihine dair kişi, konu ve objeleri bir araya getiren spor müzeleri, günümüzde çağdaş müzecilik anlayışıyla birlikte yeni bir yapılanma içerisine girmiştir. Bu bağlamda, tasarımını ziyaretçi hedef kitlesini interaktif bir müze deneyimini yaşaması odaklı kurgulayan spor müzeleri mevcut bilgilendirme misyonlarının yanı sıra, ziyaretçi deneyimini esas alan dijital uygulamalar, etkinlikler ve sunduğu diğer seçeneklerle çağdaş müzeciliğin spor odaklı alanında önemli bir görevi üstlenmektedir. Eş zamanlı olarak hedef kitlesiyle güçlü bağlar kurmayı, yaptığı çalışmalarla ilgili bilgilendirmeyi amaçlayan spor müzeleri, koleksiyon ve mimarilerinde dijital odaklı bir yapıyı benimsemelerinin yanında, dijital halkla ilişkiler çalışmaları ile kendilerini tanıtmak, çalışmalarına yönelik bilgiler vermek ve müze ziyaretini destekleyici bir dizi stratejik iletişim faaliyetinde bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışmada Türkiye’de T.C. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı tarafından tescilli ilk spor klübü müzesi olma özelliğine sahip Beşiktaş JK Müzesi’nin dijital halkla ilişkiler pratiklerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Çalışma, ülkemizde önemli spor klüplerinden biri olan Beşiktaş JK bünyesinde yer alan, dijital halkla ilişkiler kullanım pratikleri anlamında da bir ilki temsil eden Beşiktaş JK Müzesi ile sınırlandırılmıştır. Gözlem ve örnek olay incelemesi yöntemlerinin kullanıldığı çalışmadan elde edilen veriler neticesinde dijital halkla ilişkileri pratiklerinin, yeni nesil spor müzeleri kavramı içerisinde yeri ve kullanım biçimleri ortaya konulmuştur.
«Leggere secondo le sillabe»
Authors: Monfrinotti Matteo ,   Instituto Patristico Augustinianum
Published: April 2021

The present contribution proposes the study of the exegetical-soteriological assumption, elaborated by Clement of Alexandria in Str. 6, 15, 131, 1-5, where a passage taken from the Vis. II, 1, 3-4 of Hermas is reinterpreted. The Gnostic exegete, who professes the true gnosis, must be aware that while it is possible for everyone to read the sacrad Scripture “letter by letter”, not everyone will be in a position to undertake the “Gnostic explanation”, but only those to which faith has opened the depths of the text, “the elect”, so that they are able to progress from the “letter” to the “syllable” bringing to light the message that goes beyond the letter, which is already engraved in the “new heart” and now preserved in the book that has been “renewed” by the Savior, the Logos of God.
Orientaciones para el estudio del contenido del Vat. gr. 1196
Authors: Oliva Martínez Raquel ,   Instituto Patristico Augustinianum
Published: April 2021

Vat. gr. 1196 is a miscellaneous manuscript that contains canonical, synodal and heresiological texts from different authors. These adnotationes offer its own foliation and contents.
Girolamo critico di Agostino?
Authors: Caruso Giuseppe ,   Instituto Patristico Augustinianum
Published: April 2021

The history of the relationship between Jerome and Augustine has often been studied; nevertheless it seems that, even after peace was made between the two, the Stridonian advanced some criticisms of Augustine in relation to the evangelical saying about the camel and the eye. He interprets this as an expression of an absolute impossibility, while for Augustine it indicates only the difficulty of an operation which can be overcome thanks to the intervention of God.
Il triteismo nel VI secolo: la fase arcaica (557-567)
Authors: dell’Osso Carlo ,   Instituto Patristico Augustinianum
Published: April 2021

The Tritheism of the sixth century has not been widely studied. John Philoponus, the greatest exponent of the theory, developed the idea by applying Aristotelian realism to the doctrine of the Trinity and concluded that in the Trinity there are three hypostases and three natures, whence comes the name for those who hold this position: “Tri-theists,” since they divide the one nature and substance of God into three. This article sheds light on the earliest stage of the development of Tritheism beginning in the year 557, when we can date the first appearance of John Askotzanges in the sources, and goes up until the first Syndocticon, the agreement reached between the Tritheists and the Theodosians at Constantinople in the beginning of the year 567. After the death of Theodosius in 566, Tritheism no longer remained merely a local reality in Constantinople but spilled over the confines of the Imperial capital and spread throughout the East, especially in Egypt.
How Sincere Was Leibniz’s Criticism of Hobbes’s Political Thought?
Authors: Manzo Fiorenza ,   The Leibniz Society of North America
Published: April 2021

This paper focuses on Leibniz’s engagement with Thomas Hobbes’s political anthropology in the Mainz-period writings, and demonstrates that Leibniz tried to construct an alternative to the English philosopher by conceiving of a physically- and ontologically-grounded psychology of actions. I provide textual evidence of this attempt, and account for Leibniz’s rejection of Hobbes’s political theory and anthropological assumptions. In doing so, I refer to diverse aspects of Leibniz’s work, thereby highlighting his aspiration to congruity and consistency between different areas of investigation. Furthermore, Leibniz’s political writings and letters will reveal another—sometimes neglected—aspect of the issue: his concern to defend and legitimize the existence of pluralist and collective constitutional political systems like the Holy Roman Empire by providing the theoretical ground of their ability to last.
From Ethological Linguistics to Animal Linguistics and Ecolinguistics
Authors: Augustyn Prisca
Published: April 2021

Biosemiotics and biolinguistics share some common origins in comparative psychology and ethology, both viewing language as a species-specific cognitive capacity whose main purpose is not communication but thought. From this perspective, biosemiotics should be at the center of cognitive science. However, biolinguistics and biosemiotics (or linguistics and semiotics) have been marginalized in the context of cognitive science and neuroscience; nonetheless there are currents in mainstream linguistics and cognitive science operating from a biosemiotic perspective without overtly articulating their research agendas as such. I believe that the future success of the biosemiotic movement will depend on recognizing and connecting with those research agendas.
Boundary Conditions: Crossing Spatial Boundaries as a Matter of Mind
Authors: van der Elst Judith
Published: April 2021

A key step in understanding different ways of experiencing the world, consists in exploring the limits of the human mind and the languages we use to make sense of our surrounding worlds. The concept of boundary is central in this endeavor. When we think of a boundary in the broadest sense, we think of an entity (or event) demarcated from its surroundings. Whether these boundaries reflect the structure of the world or just the organizing activity of our mind is a matter of intense philosophical debate. In this paper, human spatial thinking is a starting point to further explore our interactions with and within our environment. I argue that biosemiotics offers the most suitable framework for doing so, as it integrates humans in the larger communication network flow. Yet the spatial aspect of communication has received only limited attention in the biosemiotic literature. Furthermore, basing myself on my recent crossover practice in art/science, I argue that an embodied-embedded approach is necessary to dissolve and redefine spatial categories, allowing the investigation and potential crossing of the boundaries of our perceptual worlds.
Growth as Constraint
Authors: Cobley Paul
Published: April 2021

Human modelling is unique among the modelling of all the animals because it features both nonverbal and verbal communication. Yet, in the development of this modelling, something must be lost with the movement to one mode from another. Biosemiotics, positing ‘semiotic freedom’, claims the organism ‘builds’ on its relation to the environment. This paper will consider the theoretical approaches in biosemiotics which suggest freedom of, repression within and constraints on (in Deacon’s sense) organismic action. The paper aims to stimulate discussion regarding which conceptions and terminology are most appropriate in this sphere.
'Overlap and Interlace': Thoreau’s Thawing Sandbank as Transgenic Artwork
Authors: Reder Kimo
Published: April 2021

In the “Spring” chapter ofWalden, Henry David Thoreau’s portrait of a melting, thawing sandbank, as a place of “overlap and interlace”, is a bio-semiotic primal scene. For Thoreau, language itself is an agent of transgenic fusion, finding interlinked roots and common properties at every turn. Thoreau’s wordplay is a page rehearsal for later forms of laboratory-assisted, genre-hopping bio-art in which cross-bred materials form inter-species puns and organic conundrums, phrases from the Old Testament and Descartes are translated via code into DNA base pairs and inserted into plants and bacteria, and gene-splicing becomes a creative act. Using sequencing gels and calipers, autoclaves and plasmid samples, transgenic art plays in the gap between our genes’ lettristic code and manifested matter : Thoreau straddles this same divide with puns and wordplay based on some of the more occult linguistic theories of his day.
Siri Fails the Turing Test: Computation, Biosemiosis, and Artificial Life
Authors: Alexander Victoria N.
Published: April 2021

Artificial Intelligence (AI) designers try to mimic human brain capabilities with “self-learning” neural networks trained by selection processes. Yet decades on, AI still fails the Turing Test. While computers use codes and develop algorithms apart from contexts, living cells use signs and develop semiotic habits within contexts. This difference, I argue, is partly due to the collective activities of biological neurons that produce traveling waves, which, in turn, further constrain neural activity. It appears wave patterns function as contexts shaping the content of the local connections. At the time of his death, Alan Turing was investigating the organizing role of emergent wave patterns on biological development. Had he lived to continue this work, he might have reoriented AI research, which instead has become merely a tool for stereotyping and regularizing, not thinking.
Deep Ecosemiotics: Forest as a Semiotic Model1
Authors: Maran Timo
Published: April 2021

Many concepts used in semiotics today are derived from linguistics, philosophy, literature studies and other fields. Yet a genuinely ecosemiotic approach, requires modelling tools that go beyond imagery based on human culture and communication. In this paper, I develop an ecosemiotic research model that uses “forest” as its primary ground. Basing myself on the Tartu-Moscow school of cultural semiotics, I introduce modelling as an analytic method. Then I describe properties of the forest as an ecosystem as well as its experiential meaning for humans. The forest model can be applied in studying common objects of ecosemiotics, but it can also be mirrored back to the objects of general, cultural or social semiotics. The paper concludes with suggestions on developing the forest model in practical research.
Evolution of British policy in Egypt after the signing of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936 (August 1936вЂ“April 1938)
Authors: Onishchenko Anton Germanovich
Published: April 2021

The object of the study is the policy of Great Britain in Egypt from August 1936 to April 1938. The subject of the study is the trends in the policy of the Foreign Office and local British authorities in relation to Egypt in the context of external and internal challenges. The main attention is paid to the situation that developed after the signing of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936. The study examines the British responses in connection with Italy's aggressive policy in the region, as well as during the "palace crisis" in Egypt, which developed as a result of the death of King Fuad and the transition of the throne to Farouk. These events threatened the British presence in the region, for which the empire had been fighting with various forces since the mid-1930s. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the involvement of new sources вЂ“ namely the diaries of the British High Commissioner Miles Lampson. It is noted that the trend in UK politics continues to soften the style of government and avoid harsh and radical decisions. In particular, antagonism with Italy is being resolved by diplomatic means, which resulted in the signing of the Anglo-Italian treaty in April 1938. As for the domestic political situation, the "palace crisis" can also be overcome by soft means by creating a balance of power positive for the British presence in the Egyptian political system, as well as through negotiations with anti-British forces.
Steady-state thermal resistance measurement of light-emitting diodes based on spectroscopic method
Authors: Jiang Fu-Chun , Liu Rui-You , Peng Dong-Sheng , Liu Wen , Chai Guang-Yue , Li Bai-Kui , Wu Hong-Lei ,   Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and System of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Provice, College of Physics and Optoelectronics Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Published: April 2021

According to the luminous spectrum characteristics of white light emission diode (WLED) light emission spectrum, through the analysis of the intersection (the trough point of the whole spectrum) of blue light spectrum and yellow light spectrum generated by blue light excited yellow phosphor, in this paper we design an LED steady-state thermal resistance measurement system based on the spectroscopic method by using the conventional spectrometer, and we also use the normal driving current to fit the whole spectrum trough through a certain function algorithm. According to the temperature rise curve, we can calculate the temperature rise of the LED junction temperature relative to the substrate under any working condition, and combine the heat dissipation power of the LED to get the steady-state thermal resistance of the LED. This method avoids the limitation of a similar forward voltage drop method which uses the minimum current calibration and requires the modules of high-speed data acquisition and high-speed sampling conversion, thus making the equipment expensive. Therefore it is necessary to reduce its cost. Finally, the system designed in this paper and the T3Ster instrument of Mentor Graphics Corporation in the United States are both used to measure various LEDs and their results are compared with each other. The results show that the maximum deviation of steady-state thermal resistance is only 3.64%. It indicates that the system and method designed in this paper can achieve the same precision as T3Ster instrument of Mentor Graphics Corporation, demonstrating that the system and method designed in this paper can achieve the same precision as the T3Ster instrument of Mentor Graphics, under the condition without needing expensive equipment, Moreover, this method uses non-traditional spectral method to measure the junction temperature of LED, which has the characteristics of remote real-time online detection of LED junction temperature, low cost, and no restrictions on the LED packaging structure. Therefore, this method has a wider application range than the voltage method adopted by Mentor Graphics T3Ster equipment, and has a certain practical value.
Channel nuclear pore complex subunits are required for transposon silencing in Drosophila
Authors: Munafò Marzia , Lawless Victoria R , Passera Alessandro , MacMillan Serena , Bornelöv Susanne , Haussmann Irmgard U , Soller Matthias , Hannon Gregory J , Czech Benjamin
Published: April 2021

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is the principal gateway between nucleus and cytoplasm that enables exchange of macromolecular cargo. Composed of multiple copies of ~30 different nucleoporins (Nups), the NPC acts as a selective portal, interacting with factors which individually license passage of specific cargo classes. Here we show that two Nups of the inner channel, Nup54 and Nup58, are essential for transposon silencing via the PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway in the Drosophila ovary. In ovarian follicle cells, loss of Nup54 and Nup58 results in compromised piRNA biogenesis exclusively from the flamenco locus, whereas knockdowns of other NPC subunits have widespread consequences. This provides evidence that some Nups can acquire specialised roles in tissue-specific contexts. Our findings consolidate the idea that the NPC has functions beyond simply constituting a barrier to nuclear/cytoplasmic exchange as genomic loci subjected to strong selective pressure can exploit NPC subunits to facilitate their expression.
Coordination between nucleotide excision repair and specialized polymerase DnaE2 action enables DNA damage survival in non-replicating bacteria
Authors: Joseph Asha Mary , Daw Saheli , Sadhir Ismath , Badrinarayanan Anjana
Published: April 2021

Translesion synthesis (TLS) is a highly conserved mutagenic DNA lesion tolerance pathway, which employs specialized, low-fidelity DNA polymerases to synthesize across lesions. Current models suggest that activity of these polymerases is predominantly associated with ongoing replication, functioning either at or behind the replication fork. Here we provide evidence for DNA damage-dependent function of a specialized polymerase, DnaE2, in replication-independent conditions. We develop an assay to follow lesion repair in non-replicating Caulobacter and observe that components of the replication machinery localize on DNA in response to damage. These localizations persist in the absence of DnaE2 or if catalytic activity of this polymerase is mutated. Single-stranded DNA gaps for SSB binding and low-fidelity polymerase-mediated synthesis are generated by nucleotide excision repair (NER), as replisome components fail to localize in the absence of NER. This mechanism of gap-filling facilitates cell cycle restoration when cells are released into replication-permissive conditions. Thus, such cross-talk (between activity of NER and specialized polymerases in subsequent gap-filling) helps preserve genome integrity and enhances survival in a replication-independent manner.
Melatonin ameliorates myocardial injury by reducing apoptosis and autophagy of cardiomyocytes in a rat cardiopulmonary bypass model
Authors: Huang Xiaolin , Hou Jian , Huang Suiqing , Feng Kangni , Yue Yuan , Li Huayang , Huang Shaojie , Liang Mengya , Chen Guangxian , Wu Zhongkai
Published: April 2021

Background

Myocardial injury is a frequent complication after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). This study aimed to test the hypothesis that melatonin could attenuate myocardial injury in a rat CPB model.

Methods

Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups,n = 6 for each group: the sham operation (SO) group, CPB group and melatonin group. Rats in the SO group underwent cannulation without CPB, rats in CPB group intraperitoneal injected an equal volume of vehicle daily for 7 days before being subjected to CPB and rats in melatonin group intraperitoneal injected 20 mg/kg of melatonin solution daily for 7 days before being subjected to CPB. After 120 min for CPB, the expression levels of plasma interleukin (IL) -6, IL-1β, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), creatine kinase (CK) -MB and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) were measured. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by dihydroethidium (DHE). Apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Mitochondrial damage and autophagosomes were detected by electron microscopy. Apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) was detected by immunofluorescence. The expression of B cell lymphoma/leukemia2 associated X (Bax), B cell lymphoma/leukemia 2 (Bcl-2), cytochrome C (Cyto-C), cleaved caspase-9, AKT, p-AKT, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), p-STAT3, LC3, P62, mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR), p-mTOR and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) were determined using western blotting.

Results

Melatonin significantly decreased the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, MDA, CK-MB and cTnT and increased the levels of SOD and GSH-Px, all of which were altered by CPB. Melatonin reduced cardiomyocyte superoxide production, the apoptosis index and autophagy in cardiomyocytes induced by CPB. The AKT, STAT3 and mTOR signaling pathways were activated by melatonin during CPB.

Conclusion

Melatonin may serve as a cardioprotective factor in CPB by inhibiting oxidative damage, apoptosis and autophagy. The AKT, STAT3 and mTOR signaling pathways were involved in this process.
Mobile Marketing Initiatives on Consumer Attitudes and Buying Behaviour of Young Consumers in Sri-Lanka
Authors: Shahina Fathima , Sachitra Vilani
Published: April 2021

Purpose: Mobile marketing is act as a phenomenon of great impact and relevance for marketing communications because it provides a continuous access to the consumer “anytime and anywhere”. Development of mobile marketing has become a greater opportunity to maintain an interactive and meaningful communication with customers for businesses, especially within the young generation. Young consumers are not homogeneous audiences for mobile marketing as their usage patterns and attitudes are widely depending on their social background, technological literacy and urban/rural lifestyles. The main objective of this study is to examine the influence of innovative mobile marketing services on customer attitudes and buying behaviours of young consumers in Sri-Lanka.

Method: Quantitative approach was used to investigate the specific research objective followed by explanatory research design. The sample size for this study was 130 undergraduates attached to university of Sri Jayewardenepura. Survey method was used to collect the data and a structured questionnaire was utilised as a data collection tool.  

Findings: Multiple regression analysis results revealed the statistically significant relationships between mobile marketing initiatives (mobile app marketing and SMS marketing) and customer buying behaviour. The regression-based path analysis results indicated that customer attitudes mediate the relationship between mobile app marketing and customer buying behaviour. The path analysis on SMS marketing, customer attitudes and consumer buying behavior revealed that there was no mediating effect of customer attitudes for the relationship between SMS marketing and customer buying behaviour.

Research Implications: Mobile marketing initiatives provide marketers and business to connect more closely to customers. It is important for the marketers to know the influence of mobile marketing initiatives on the consumer buying attitudes and behaviours whether they are positive or negative.
A State of Art for Smart Gateways Issues and Modification
Authors: Abdulrahman Lozan M. , Zeebaree Subhi R. M. , Kak Shakir Fattah , Sadeeq Mohammed A. M. , AL-Zebari Adel , Salim Baraa Wasfi , Sharif Karzan Hussein
Published: April 2021

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a collection of objects such as sensors, actuators, and processors, which interconnected within a specific network to perform a task collaboratively. The IoT is one of the prevalent technologies, which has developed dramatically in recent years. Its reputation derives from its relevance and role in employing things in the best way, starting with smartphones that opened new horizons in control technologies and later developing new ideas regarding cloud-computing services. A smart gateway plays an essential role in the IoT applications that responsible for enabling communication between the network layer and the ubiquitous sensors network layer. IoT gateways are methods that operate with influential data centers as a point of communication between lower-end users. IoT gateways connect the heterogeneous devices in use and carry out many tasks to accomplish the computing mission. This work searches how IoT gateway's function and how they interact. In particular, it lists interface issues related to IoT gateways. In this paper, we research IoT and Smart Gateways and address Smart Gateways problems and computing techniques to promote IoT programs' stable transition to the Smart Gateway.
Molecular Diversity Analysis of Somaclonal Variants of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers
Authors: Shamsuzzaman Md , Bhattacharjya Debu Kumar , Islam Md. Shariful , Hoque Md. Ekramul
Published: April 2021

Aims: An experiment was conducted to analyze the DNA fingerprinting and genetic diversity of nine potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) somaclonal variants and three check varieties.

Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was carried out at the Biotechnology laboratory of the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh during November, 2013 to December, 2014.

Methodology: The somaclonal variants investigated were SIP-3, SIP-5, SVP-6, SVP-18, SVP-19, SVP-25, SVP-55, SVP-56 and SVP-68, while the check varieties were Cardinal, Diamant and Asterix. Six RAPD primers were used to perform PCR reaction after genomic DNA was extracted from young leaves.

Results: The selected 6 primers produced total 54 distinct and differential amplified DNA bands of size range 88 bp to 3265 bp, where 47 bands (~87%) were polymorphic and 7 bands (~13%) were monomorphic. The pair-wise inter-genotype similarity indices were ranged from 61.59% to 93.55% with an average of 74.31%. The Nei’s genetic distance among 12 potato genotypes was estimated from 0.0972 to 0.6217 whereas, genetic identity was between 0.5370 and 0.9074. Here, the distantly linked accessions among the somaclonal variations with check varieties were SVP-6 (to Cardinal and Diamant) and SVP-25 (to Asterix). In addition, the UPGMA dendrogram segregated the 12 potato genotypes into two broad clusters containing 8 and 4 genotypes, respectively. Furthermore, the dendrogram also displayed the highest genetic distance between SVP-6 vs SVP-68 genotype pair.

Conclusion: Significant relationship and diversity were found among the studied 12 genotypes. This genetic diversity among the potato genotypes would be utilized for further potato improvement.
The Determinants of Banking Stability: The Example of Tunisia
Authors: Mkadmi Jamel Eddine , Baccari Najwa , Ncib Adel
Published: April 2021

This paper try to study the factors of the stability of Tunisian banks from a sample made up of 7 Tunisian banks listed during the period 2005-2014. The important determinants used to explain the stability of the banks are: the z-score and the capitalization ratio. The results revealed, firstly, that the profitability variables such as: return on assets (ROA) has a positive and significant impact on the stability of banks and return on equity (ROE) has a negative and significant effect. Besides, bank-specific variables such as: the net interest margin (NIM), the non-interest income (NII), the age and the size of the bank affect positively and not significantly the banking stability. But the debt ratio (END) has a negative and significant impact on banking stability. Finally, gross domestic product (GDP) affects positively and not significantly on banking stability. This paper investigates the connection between earnings management and corporate social.
Biodiesel Production from Sunflower Oil Using K2CO3 Impregnated Kaolin Novel Solid Base Catalyst
Authors: Jalalmanesh Shayan , Kazemeini Mohammad , Rahmani Mohamad H. , Zehtab Salmasi Milad
Published: April 2021

Kaolin clay material was loaded with potassium carbonate by impregnation method as a novel, effective, and economically heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production of sunflower oil via the transesterification reaction. The structural and chemical properties of the produced catalysts were characterized through several analyses including the X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area. These revealed the best catalyst for the investigated reaction among different ones prepared based upon various impregnation extent of the potassium carbonate. The influence of this parameter was examined through a comparison of the catalytic activity of differently produced catalysts. The impregnation amount of 20 wt% K2CO3 upon the kaolin achieved the highest catalytic activity attributed to its highest basicity. To expand upon the efficiency of transesterification, such reaction parameters including the molar ratio between methanol and oil, reactor loading of the catalyst, and time duration of the reaction were optimized. The highest yield of biodiesel over the K2O/kaolin catalyst was around 95.3 ± 1.2%, which was achieved using the kaolin support impregnated with 20 wt% of K2CO3 under optimum reaction conditions of the catalyst, reactor loading of 5 wt%, reaction temperature of 65 °C, methanol:oil molar ratio of 6:1, and reaction duration time of 4 hours. Ultimately, this optimized catalyst was demonstrated to successfully withstand the aforementioned optimum criteria up to five consecutive reaction cycles while experiencing a rather negligible loss of about 10% of its activity.
“Air Anatomy” – Teaching Complex Spatial Anatomy Using Simple Hand Gestures
Authors: Yohannan Doris George , Oommen Aswathy Maria , Bhaskaran Jayaprasad Amogh , Raju Nithin Kadakampallil , Suresh Rakesh Omana , Nair Santhanu Jagannath
Published: April 2021

Spatial understanding of complex anatomical concepts is often a challenge for learners, as well as for educators. It is even more challenging for students with low mental spatial abilities. There are many options to teach spatial relationships, ranging from simple models to high‐end three‐dimensional (3D) virtual reality tools. Using a randomized controlled trial design, this study explored the use of a unique combination of deictic and iconic hand gestures to enhance spatial anatomical understanding, coining the term “Air Anatomy”. The control group (n = 45) was given a lecture on the anatomy of extraocular muscles, while the intervention group (n = 49) received the same lecture including “Air Anatomy” hand gestures. When compared to the control group, the post‐test scores for the intervention group were significantly higher for basic recall (P < 0.001; Mann–Whitney U test) and for the application of knowledge (P = 0.015; Mann–Whitney U test). Students with low to moderate spatial ability (as assessed by a mental rotation test) were found to benefit most by this technique. Students in the intervention group also reported a lower extrinsic cognitive load and higher germane load, when compared to the control group. An instructional skills questionnaire survey indicated the effectiveness of this technique in improving overall classroom experience. Feedback of the students in the intervention group was also favorable for instruction using “Air Anatomy”. The study suggests that “Air Anatomy” is a useful, “no‐cost”, accessible method that aids spatial understanding of anatomical concepts.
Palladium/Zinc Co‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of γ‐Keto Carboxylic Acids
Authors: Zhang Keyang , Zhang Xuexin , Chen Jingchao , Liu Zixiu , Pan Chunxiang , Zhu Yuanbin , Wu Shiyuan , Fan Baomin
Published: April 2021

A palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of levulinic acid has been successful developed by using Zn(OTf)2 as co‐catalyst. The present method not only has provided a strategy in the palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of ketone, but also allowed the preparation of a wide range of chiral γ‐valerolactones in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities.
A Novel Method to Prepare Flexible 3D NiO Nanosheets Electrodes for Alkaline Rechargeable Ni−Zn Batteries
Authors: Zhou Kai , Guo Xinying , Guo Yuanyuan , Zhuang Ruoxi , Chen Huifeng , Wang Shuai , Bao Yu , Han Dongxue , Niu Li
Published: April 2021

The combination of excellent mechanical properties and electrochemical performances of Ni‐based cathodes is fascinating and challenging for Ni−Zn batteries. Herein, a novel and eco‐friendly strategy of the cycle of Ni2+ hydrolysis and H+ etching process at Ni/solution interface under moderate temperature is demonstrated to synthesize the three‐dimensional NiO nanosheets array supported on pressed Ni foam electrode (denoted as NiO/PNF). The as‐prepared NiO/PNF electrode exhibits outstanding mechanical flexibility and stability with a capacity of 5.08 mAh cm−3. The assembled NiO/PNF||Zn battery presents peak energy and power densities up to 5.2 mW h cm−3 and 1944.4 mW cm−3.
Multivariate classification models
Authors: Brereton Richard G.
Published: April 2021

The concepts ofpvalues and of confusion matrices are extended to multivariate classification problems using quadratic discriminant analysis and linear discriminant analysis.
Solid‐State Room‐Temperature Near‐Infrared Photoluminescence of a Stable Organic Radical
Authors: Matsuoka Ryota , Kimura Shojiro , Kusamoto Tetsuro
Published: April 2021

Luminescent organic radicals often exhibit unique emission properties when isolated in solution or dispersed in host materials. However, luminescent properties of radicals in the fully aggregated pure solid state have rarely been investigated, especially at room temperature. Herein, a luminescent stable organic radical with a 3‐pyridyl moiety, the (2,4‐dichloro‐3‐pyridyl)bis(2,4,6‐trichlorophenyl)methyl radical (metaPyBTM), was synthesized and characterized. Although the electronic structures and photophysical properties in solution of metaPyBTM and its analogues are similar, metaPyBTM displays distinct near‐infrared photoluminescence in the pure crystalline state at room temperature. The solid‐state luminescence properties of metaPyBTM depend strongly on temperature and the degree of aggregation. An external magnetic field also modulates the emission spectrum of metaPyBTM in the moderately aggregated state.
Determination of thyroid hormones in dietary supplements using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Pawar Rahul S. , Sagi Satyanarayanaraju , Leontyev Dmitry
Published: April 2021

More than 27 million Americans have some kind of thyroid disease. Numerous dietary supplements claiming to support healthy thyroid function and healthy metabolism and balance or promote weight loss are available for purchase in retail stores and on the internet. In the literature, there have been reports of adverse events associated with the consumption of thyroid hormone‐containing products. In this study, an LC‐MS/MS method was developed and validated for the analysis of thyroxine (T4), 3,3′,5‐triiodo‐l‐thyronine (T3), 3,3′,5′‐triiodothyronine (rT3), 3,5‐diiodothyronine (3,5‐T2) and 3,3′‐diiodothyronine (3,3′‐T2) in dietary supplements. Sonication with methanol was used for the extraction of free hormones from nonglandular products. The tissue‐bound hormones from glandular thyroid products were extracted using a modified enzymatic digestion, in which the matrix was first extracted by sonication with methanol and then by enzymatic digestion with proteases. Both extraction methods provided acceptable recovery values between 78% and 116%. Fifty‐eight products making claims related to thyroid management were purchased over the internet from 2017–2018 and quantitatively analyzed for five hormones using the validated methods. Eleven out of 19 glandular products were found to contain quantifiable amounts of hormones. Maximum daily servings were also calculated for each product based on label information. The maximum amount of T4, T3, and rT3 per daily serving in the glandular products were up to 210, 32, and 7.6 μg/day, respectively. In the case of nonglandular products, which were labeled to contain plant extracts, vitamins, minerals, diiodo compounds, and so forth, the amounts of 3,5‐T2 and 3,3′‐T2 were up to 740 and 2700 μg/day, respectively.
Numerical investigation on heat transfer rate from the outside environment into the electronic compartment of the measurement‐while‐drilling tools
Authors: Gao Wenkai , Liu Ke , Dou Xiurong , Zhang Liang , Tang Song
Published: April 2021

With the increase of drilling depth, a large number of high‐temperature wells with bottom hole temperatures of more than 150°C appear. However, conventional measurement‐while‐drilling (MWD) instruments are no longer suitable. Therefore, it is necessary to design a new MWD instrument suitable for high‐temperature downhole for a long time. Compared with other active refrigeration methods, a split‐Stirling cryocooler is the best choice. In this paper, a new active cooling system is designed, based on the split‐Stirling cryocooler. The heat transfer rate entering the instrument cabin of MWD from the external environment is calculated, and the effects of the heat transfer device, insulation material, circuit board, split‐Stirling cryocooler, and working condition on heat transfer rate are discussed. The results show that the thermal conductivity of insulation material has a great influence on heat transfer rate. The thermal conductivity of the insulation material filled with the gap in the cabin must be small enough. Meanwhile, the influence of the length of the circuit board is greater than the height and width. If conditions permit, the double‐layer circuit can be used. And the thermal power of the circuit board has no effect on the heat transfer rate entering the instrument cabin from outside.
Parent and practitioner perspectives on Circle of Security Parenting (COS‐P): A qualitative study
Authors: Maxwell Anne‐Marie , Reay Rebecca E. , Huber Anna , Hawkins Erinn , Woolnough Erin , McMahon Catherine
Published: April 2021

Circle of Security Parenting (COS‐P) is an attachment‐theory‐informed program for parents of infants and young children. Designed for scalability, COS‐P has been widely adopted internationally. Evidence for the program's effectiveness is limited, however, restricting capacity to make informed decisions about program allocation, and threatening ongoing program funding. To help address this evidence gap, this qualitative study explored the experiences and perceptions of 20 COS‐P facilitators and 14 parent recipients in Australia, where COS‐P uptake has been particularly widespread. Thematic analysis of combined interview and focus group data revealed a perception that COS‐P primarily changes the lens through which parents view (a) their child, (b) themselves in the parenting role, and (c) the parent–child relationship, and that this was a pathway to increased empathy, compassion, and parenting confidence. Participants identified four components that underpinned program impact: key content, skills practice, group processes, and facilitator support. Although COS‐P was considered suitable for broad application, limitations were noted. Findings can guide clinical application of COS‐P and inform empirical research.