bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tackling Root Causes Upstream of Unhealthy Urban Development (TRUUD): Protocol of a five-year prevention research consortium
Authors: Black Daniel , Ayres Sarah , Bondy Krista , Brierley Rachel , Campbell Rona , Carhart Neil , Coggon John , Eaton Eleanor , Fichera Eleonora , Gibson Andy , Hatleskog Eli , Hickman Matthew , Hicks Ben , Hunt Alistair , Pain Kathy , Pearce Nick , Pilkington Paul , Rosenberg Ges , Scally Gabriel
Published: February 2021

Poor quality urban environments substantially increase non-communicable disease. Responsibility for associated decision-making is dispersed across multiple agents and systems: fast growing urban authorities are the primary gatekeepers of new development and change in the UK, yet the driving forces are remote private sector interests supported by a political economy focused on short-termism and consumption-based growth. Economic valuation of externalities is widely thought to be fundamental, yet evidence on how to value and integrate it into urban development decision-making is limited, and it forms only a part of the decision-making landscape. Researchers must find new ways of integrating socio-environmental costs at numerous key leverage points across multiple complex systems. This mixed-methods study comprises of six highly integrated work packages. It aims to develop and test a multi-action intervention in two urban areas: one on large-scale mixed-use development, the other on major transport. The core intervention is the co-production with key stakeholders through interviews, workshops, and participatory action research, of three areas of evidence: economic valuations of changed health outcomes; community-led media on health inequalities; and routes to potential impact mapped through co-production with key decision-makers, advisors and the lay public. This will be achieved by: mapping system of actors and processes involved in each case study; developing, testing and refining the combined intervention; evaluating the extent to which policy and practice changes amongst our target users, and the likelihood of impact on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) downstream. The integration of such diverse disciplines and sectors presents multiple practical/operational issues. The programme is testing new approaches to research, notably with regards practitioner-researcher integration and transdisciplinary research co-leadership. Other critical risks relate to urban development timescales, uncertainties in upstream-downstream causality, and the demonstration of impact.
Differentiated Approach to Teaching and Its Implementation in Russian Language Lessons in Primary School
Authors: Aleksandrova O. , Gosteva Yu. , Kuznetsova M.
Published: February 2021

The article discusses the possibilities of using a differentiated approach to teaching the Russian language, which takes into account both the stage of mastering the subject content and the degree of individual preparation of each student, his abilities, interests, needs, motivation. The authors determined the specifics of modeling tasks of the basic and increased levels of complexity, which allow, based on the knowledge gained and the speech experience of junior schoolchildren as native speakers, to successfully form their universal educational actions (cognitive, communicative, regulatory), which meets the requirements of the Federal State Educational Standard of the Primary General Education to the planned subject and metasubject learning outcomes. The examples of differentiated tasks aimed at the development of speech-thinking abilities, logical thinking, cognitive skills, and skills of independent educational activity are presented.
A Stochastic Programming Approach for Locating and Dispatching Two Types of Ambulances
Authors: Yoon Soovin , Albert Laura A. , White Veronica M.
Published: February 2021

Emergency Medical Service systems aim to respond to emergency calls in a timely manner and provide prehospital care to patients. This paper addresses the problem of locating multiple types of emergency vehicles to stations while taking into account that vehicles are dispatched to prioritized patients with different health needs. We propose a two-stage stochastic-programming model that determines how to locate two types of ambulances in the first stage and dispatch them to prioritized emergency patients in the second stage after call-arrival scenarios are disclosed. We demonstrate how the base model can be adapted to include nontransport vehicles. A model formulation generalizes the base model to consider probabilistic travel times and general utilities for dispatching ambulances to prioritized patients. We evaluate the benefit of the model using two case studies, a value of the stochastic solution approach, and a simulation analysis. The case study is extended to study how to locate vehicles in the model extension with nontransport vehicles. Stochastic-programming models are computationally challenging for large-scale problem instances, and, therefore, we propose a solution technique based on Benders cuts.
Dos Zagros ao Eufrates: os cassitas
Authors: Scoville Priscila Cristina Nascimento Lopez
Published: February 2021

Este estudo visa elencar questões sobre o impacto cassita na Babilônia, pensando em elementos políticos e culturais. Assim, procuro trazer a trajetória do período da Babilônia Cassita, apontando os eventos e reis de destaque em seu contexto, traçando motivações e consequências, na medida do possível. Para tanto, realizo uma revisão historiográfica que elenca hipóteses para o preenchimento da fragmentação documental com as informações trazidas pela historiografia.
Classical Chinese Philosophy and the Concept of Qi
Authors: Rošker Jana S.
Published: February 2021

The concept of qi belongs among the most difficult and complex notions in Chinese ideational history. The present article follows from recognizing that traditional translations of this concept are Eurocentric. The author substantiates the problematic role of these presumptive translations through critical analyses of their methodological approaches, which led to the traditional, falsified understanding of this concept. A new alternative and richer understanding of this concept is proposed, pointing to several different levels of meaning on which it can be understood. The author analyses and interprets the notion of qi including its various philosophical, physiological, psychological end ethical dimensions. The article shows that on the semantical level, qi derives from the etymological meaning of air and is in essence similar to the concept of field in physics, referring to the breath as the origin of the living world. From this perspective, the holistic nature of this notion of breath will be introduced, exposing the dynamic network through which it connects all existing beings in the universe, endowed with life.
Dossiê NEARCO ‘Sociedades Asiáticas na Antiguidade’:
Authors: Bueno André
Published: February 2021

Apresentação da edição da NEARCO volume 12, número 2
Morphological, molecular and resistance responses to soft-rot disease variability among plantlets of Phalaenopsis amabilis regenerated from irradiated protocorms
Authors: Putri Halida Adistya , Purwito Agus , Sudarsono Sudarsono , Sukma Dewi
Published: February 2021

Abstract. Putri HA, Purwito A, Sudarsono, Sukma D. 2021. Morphological, molecular and resistance responses to soft-rot disease variability among plantlets of Phalaenopsis amabilis regenerated from irradiated protocorms. Biodiversitas 22: 1077-1090. Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) Blume is a prominent donor for the white petal and sepal trait in Phalaenopsis breeding. However, it has an undesirable character, such as susceptible to soft-rot disease. Therefore, developing soft-rot resistance mutants through gamma irradiation could be explored. This study aimed to evaluate the variability of plantlets regenerated from irradiated and non-irradiated protocorms using morphology, stomatal size and molecular markers and to test responses of the plantlets against soft-rot disease. The plantlets were regenerated from irradiated (5, 10, 15 or 20 Gy) and non-irradiated protocorms. The results showed that P. amabilis plantlet variants were successfully identified based on their leaf morphology and stomatal size variations. A few plantlets have low stomatal densities, large stomatal size, and high chloroplast numbers, which indicated they were polyploids. Leaf disc assay for soft-rot disease response grouped most of the plantlets into very susceptible or susceptible. Moreover, four soft-rot resistant plantlets regenerated from irradiated and non-irradiated protocorms were successfully identified. The resistant plantlets were identified after three consecutive periods of inoculations with pathogens causing soft-rot disease. The evaluation also confirmed nucleotide variation in the Pto gene isolated from different levels of plantlet variant resistance responses.
Bridges and doorways: using interviews to build relationships
Authors: Vivyan Sally
Published: February 2021

This article explores the use of interviews as a tool for relationship development in the context of conducting mixed methods qualitative research during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. It demonstrates that beyond being a source of data, interviews can be instrumental in opening doors to hard to reach informants and can form bridges between phases of fieldwork. This article draws on my PhD project which is looking at a single case study charity working with asylum seekers and refugees. The research is being undertaken through the view of a leadership-as-practice lens but the implications for how we view interviews may be of relevance to a wide range of mixed methods qualitative research. In particular, researchers whose work requires them to gain and maintain access may benefit from a more explicit consideration of the normally implicit ways interviews are used as tools in research.
251. Una cartografía de los fondos documentales del ingeniero Eduardo Torroja a través de su trayectoria científica, académica y profesional
Authors: Graus Rovira Ramon
Published: February 2021

La obra del ingeniero Eduardo Torroja sigue estimulando una copiosa producción de libros y artículos de revista. Asimismo, durante estos últimos veinte años sus fondos documentales se han ido ordenando y, en parte, digitalizando. Algunos de estos fondos son muy utilizados, por inevitables y evidentes; sin embargo, existen fondos más dispersos que se convierten en esenciales si se atiene a su trayectoria científica, académica y profesional. Se trata de una cartografía no exhaustiva, pero suficientemente amplia y abierta para mostrar cómo se han documentado los últimos estudios y tiene la esperanza de animar a utilizar material poco estudiado de estos fondos en las nuevas investigaciones.
Fast full-field modulation transfer function analysis for photographic lens quality assessment
Authors: Delley Bernard , van den Bergh Frans
Published: February 2021

Full-field modulation transfer function (MTF) data based on the slanted-edge method can give useful insights on the performance of a photographic lens sample and its shortcomings. Decentering and other out-of-tolerance states are recognized easily. A process to derive accurate lens MTF from slanted-edge spatial frequency response measurements is presented, covering chart design and alignment, data capture by standard digital cameras, slanted-edge algorithm implementation requirements, sensor and chart MTF corrections, and also visualization of the results. It is demonstrated that the reliability of the measured MTF values is by far good enough to support automated quality assessment with a measurement accuracy of

≈

0.02

MTF and repeatability of

≲
0.005

up to 100 c/mm. The measured full-field MTF values provide an unambiguous numerical criterion for comparison with expectations based on lens design.
Efficient excitation of hybrid modes on a double-layer graphene with metallic slit grating
Authors: Sun Bin , Xie Feifeng , Huang QiHong , Kang Shuai , Fang Zhenxing , Liu Jianqiang
Published: February 2021

The excitation of double-layer hybrid plasmonic modes is investigated by the finite element method. The hybrid modes, verified as the standing even order of both symmetric and anti-symmetric modes, are effectively generated. There are several advances in comparison with using the Si grating: the metallic grating not only compensates phase mismatch, but also acts as a magnetic polariton. The dependences of each hybrid mode on the geometric parameters are analyzed respectively. Interestingly, a second spectra splitting occurs at each hybrid resonant mode with an obliquely incident light. At last, the excitation efficiency can be further enhanced to 90% using the Salisbury screen. The proposed hybrid system can be utilized to design various double-layer graphene-based plasmonic devices, including tunable optical switches, thermal emitters, multiband absorbers, sensors, etc.
High-sensitivity biomedical sensor based on photoacoustic and cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy with a new software platform for breath analysis
Authors: Bayrakli Ismail , Akman Hatice , Sari Filiz
Published: February 2021

An easy-to-use highly sensitive sensor is reported for trace gas analysis. A near-infrared fiber-coupled external cavity diode laser in combination with a photoacoustic spectroscopy cell and a cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy cell is used for analysis of trace gases. A software platform for direct absorption and wavelength modulation spectroscopy is developed in order to identify and quantify the molecules and to achieve a higher signal-to-noise ratio. Considering all of these features, the main advantage of our system is to analyze two different samples simultaneously and quickly. Trace gas measurement is assessed, and a detection limit of 1.5 ppb at

6528.76

c

m

−
1

for ammonia is demonstrated. Furthermore, the sensor with our software platform can be easily used outside of the laboratory, for example, in hospitals.
Bessel beams: a unified and extended perspective
Authors: Céspedes Vicente Oscar , Caloz Christophe
Published: February 2021

We present a unified and extended perspective of Bessel beams, irrespective of their orbital angular momentum (OAM)—zero, integer or noninteger—and mode—scalar or vectorial, and LSE/LSM or TE/TM in the latter case. The unification is based on the integral superposition of constituent waves along the angular-spectrum cone of the beam, and enables us to describe, compute, relate, and implement all Bessel beams, and even other types of beams, in a universal fashion. We first establish the integral superposition theory. Then, we demonstrate the existence of noninteger-OAM TE/TM Bessel beams, compare the LSE/LSM and TE/TM modes, and establish useful mathematical relations between them. We also provide an original description of the position of the noninteger-OAM singularity in terms of the initial phase of the constituent waves. Finally, we introduce a general technique for generating Bessel beams using an adequate superposition of properly tuned sources. This global perspective and theoretical extension may be useful in applications such as spectroscopy, microscopy, and optical/quantum force manipulations.
Information transfer as a framework for optimized phase imaging
Authors: Koppell Stewart , Kasevich Mark
Published: February 2021

In order to efficiently image a non-absorbing sample (a phase object),
dedicated phase contrast optics are required. Typically, these optics
are designed with the assumption that the sample is weakly scattering,
implying a linear relation between a sample’s phase and its
transmission function. In the strongly scattering, nonlinear case, the
standard optics are ineffective, and the transfer functions used to
characterize them are uninformative. We use the Fisher information
(FI) to assess the efficiency of various phase imaging schemes and to
calculate an information transfer function (ITF). We show that a
generalized version of Zernike phase contrast is efficient given
sufficient prior knowledge of the sample. We show that with no prior
knowledge, a random sensing measurement yields a significant fraction
of the available information. Finally, we introduce a generalized
approach to common path interferometry that can be optimized to
prioritize sensitivity to particular sample features. Each of these
measurements can be performed using Fourier lenses and phase
masks.
The role of children in the spread of COVID-19: Using household data from Bnei Brak, Israel, to estimate the relative susceptibility and infectivity of children
Authors: Dattner Itai , Goldberg Yair , Katriel Guy , Yaari Rami , Gal Nurit , Miron Yoav , Ziv Arnona , Sheffer Rivka , Hamo Yoram , Huppert Amit
Published: February 2021

One of the significant unanswered questions about COVID-19 epidemiology relates to the role of children in transmission. This study uses data on infections within households in order to estimate the susceptibility and infectivity of children compared to those of adults. The data were collected from households in the city of Bnei Brak, Israel, in which all household members were tested for COVID-19 using PCR (637 households, average household size of 5.3). In addition, serological tests were performed on a subset of the individuals in the study. Inspection of the PCR data shows that children are less likely to be tested positive compared to adults (25% of children positive over all households, 44% of adults positive over all households, excluding index cases), and the chance of being positive increases with age. Analysis of joint PCR/serological data shows that there is under-detection of infections in the PCR testing, which is more substantial in children. However, the differences in detection rates are not sufficient to account for the differences in PCR positive rates in the two age groups. To estimate relative transmission parameters, we employ a discrete stochastic model of the spread of infection within a household, allowing for susceptibility and infectivity parameters to differ among children and adults. The model is fitted to the household data using a simulated maximum likelihood approach. To adjust parameter estimates for under-detection of infections in the PCR results, we employ a multiple imputation procedure using estimates of under-detection in children and adults, based on the available serological data. We estimate that the susceptibility of children (under 20 years old) is 43% (95% CI: [31%, 55%]) of the susceptibility of adults. The infectivity of children was estimated to be 63% (95% CI: [37%, 88%]) relative to that of adults.
Presence of myxoid stromal change and fibrotic focus in pathological examination are prognostic factors of triple-negative breast cancer: Results from a retrospective single-center study
Authors: Yanai Hirotsugu , Yoshikawa Katsuhiro , Ishida Mitsuaki , Tsuta Koji , Sekimoto Mitsugu , Sugie Tomoharu
Published: February 2021

Background

Stromal reaction is an important prognostic factor in several cancers, and the presence of myxoid change was assessed as a poor prognostic factor in colorectal cancer. However, the prognostic significance of myxoid change in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the prognostic significance of myxoid change and fibrotic focus (FF), which is a fibrotic area within the tumor and considered a poor prognostic indicator in patients with TNBC.

Methods

We enrolled 62 patients with TNBC and reviewed the surgically resected specimens to evaluate myxoid change and FF in the tumor using previously outlined criteria. We evaluated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) using hematoxylin and eosin slides. Overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were compared based on the presence of myxoid change and/or FF, and the risk factors for RFS were analyzed.

Results

Myxoid change and FF were observed in 25.8% and 33.9% of specimens, respectively. Based on stromal lymphocyte infiltration, 19 patients (30.6%) had high TILs, while the remaining 43 patients (69.4%) had low/intermediate TILs. Presence of myxoid change was significantly correlated with poor OS and RFS (p = 0.040 and 0.031, respectively). FF was also significantly correlated with poor OS and RFS (p = 0.012 and 0.028, respectively). The combination of myxoid change and FF was an independent and poor prognostic factor according to the multivariate analysis (HR 11.61; 95% CI 1.027–131.2; p = 0.048). Presence of myxoid change and FF were significantly associated with low/intermediate TILs in the stroma (p = 0.013).

Conclusions

Histopathological assessment of myxoid change and FF in TNBC may be a useful, practical, and easily assessable method for predicting prognosis in patients with TNBC, which should be confirmed in larger prospective studies. Diagnostic criteria for the establishment of myxoid change and FF in TNBC must be established, and their underlying molecular events must be clarified.
RNAi-mediated silencing of vitellogenin gene curtails oogenesis in the almond moth Cadra cautella
Authors: Husain Mureed , Rasool Khawaja Ghulam , Tufail Muhammad , Alwaneen Waleed Saleh , Aldawood Abdulrahman Saad
Published: February 2021

Vitellogenins, major yolk protein precursors, play an essential role in the reproduction and spread of all oviparous species, including insects. To investigate reproductive strategies of the warehouse mothCadra cautellaat the molecular level, a partial transcript of theC.cautellavitellogenin (CcVg) gene was extended through the rapid amplification of cDNA ends PCR and sequenced. The completeCcVgmRNA transcript was 5,334 bp long, which encoded a protein of 1,778 amino acids, including the first 14 amino acids of the signal peptide. The deducedCcVgprotein contained a putative cleavage site (RTRR) at the amino-terminal side, similar to several other insect species. DGQR and GI/LCG motifs were present at theCcVggene C-terminus, followed by nine cysteine residues.CcVgharbored 131 putative phosphorylation sites, numbering 84, 19, and 28 sites for serine, threonine, and tyrosine, respectively. The transcript showed a great resemblance with other lepidopteran Vgs.CcVgprotein analysis revealed three conserved regions: 1) vitellogenin-N domain, 2) DUF 1943 (domain of unknown function), and 3) a von Willebrand factor type D domain. Additionally, sex, stage-specific, and developmental expression profiles of theCcVggene were determined through RT-PCR. TheVgwas first expressed in 22-day-old female larvae, and its expression increased with growth. The phylogenetic analysis based on different insect Vgs revealed that theCcVgexhibited close ancestry with lepidopterans. TheCcVg-based RNAi experiments were performed, and the effects were critically evaluated. The qRT-PCR results showed thatCcVg-based dsRNA suppressed theVggene expression up to 90% at 48 h post-injection. Moreover,CcVg-based RNAi effects resulted in low fecundity and egg hatchability in theCcVg-based dsRNA-treated females. The females laid eggs, but because of insufficient yolk protein availability the eggs could not succeed to hatch. The significant difference in the fecundity and hatchability unveils the importance ofCcVggene silencing and confirmed that theVggene plays a key role inC.cautellareproduction and it has the potential to be used as a target for RNAi-mediated control of this warehouse pest.
Evaluation of hip arthroscopy using a hip-specific distractor for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement
Authors: Charles Tatiana , Jayankura Marc
Published: February 2021

Background and study aims

Hip arthroscopy using an orthopaedic traction table has been associated with traction-related neurovascular complications. Since the use of a hip-specific distractor for performing hip arthroscopy hasn’t been associated with those specific complications we hypothesized that a hip-specific distractor might facilitate the learning curve of hip arthroscopy for beginner surgeons.

Material and methods

We reviewed retrospectively the first 56 hip arthroscopies performed to treat femoro-acetabular impingement using a hip-specific distractor. We tried to analyse the learning curve of this procedure using operative time, peri- and postoperative complications, hospital stay and patient satisfaction. We also evaluated pre- and postoperative sports activities and tried to identify some factors as poor postoperative prognostic factors.

Results

Only 1 major complication occurred. No traction-related complications have been encountered. The curves analysing intervention time and postoperative satisfaction rate showed improvement after 30 cases performed. In all cases, we were able to perform the whole planned gesture without difficulties accessing the hip joint.

Conclusion

The hip-specific distractor is a safe and reproducible method in performing hip arthroscopy without any traction-related complications or time limits.
Confirming validity of The Fear of COVID-19 Scale in Japanese with a nationwide large-scale sample
Authors: Midorikawa Haruhiko , Aiba Miyuki , Lebowitz Adam , Taguchi Takaya , Shiratori Yuki , Ogawa Takafumi , Takahashi Asumi , Takahashi Sho , Nemoto Kiyotaka , Arai Tetsuaki , Tachikawa Hirokazu
Published: February 2021

Assessing fear and anxiety regarding COVID-19 viral infection is essential for investigating mental health during this epidemic. We have developed and validated a Japanese-language version of The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) based on a large, nationwide residential sample (n = 6,750) recruited through news and social media responding to an online version of the questionnaire. Data was collected from August 4–25, 2020. Results correlated with K6, GAD-7 and IES-R psychological scales, and T-tests and analysis of variance identified associated factors. All indices indicated the two-factor modelemotional fear reactionsandsymptomatic expressions of feara better fit for our data than a single-factor model in Confirmatory Factor Analysis (χ2= 164.16, p<0.001, CFI 0.991, TLI = 0.985, RMSEA = 0.043). Socio-demographic factors identified as disaster vulnerabilities such as female sex, sexual minority, elderly, unemployment, and present psychiatric history associated with higher scores. However, respondent or family member experience of infection risk, or work/school interference from confinement, had greatest impact. Results suggest necessity of mental health support during this pandemic similar to other disasters.
Neurobiology of anesthetic-surgical stress and induced behavioral changes in dogs and cats: A review
Authors: Hernández-Avalos I. , Flores-Gasca E. , Mota-Rojas D. , Casas-Alvarado A. , Miranda-Cortés A. E. , Domínguez-Oliva A.
Published: February 2021

The anesthetic-surgical stress response consists of metabolic, neuroendocrine, hemodynamic, immunological, and behavioral adaptations through chemical mediators such as the adrenocorticotropic hormone, growth hormone, antidiuretic hormone, cortisol, aldosterone, angiotensin II, thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, catecholamines, insulin, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and prostaglandin E-2. Behavioral changes include adopting the so-called prayer posture, altered facial expressions, hyporexia or anorexia, drowsiness, sleep disorders, restriction of movement, licking or biting the injured area, and vocalizations. Overall, these changes are essential mechanisms to counteract harmful stimuli. However, if uncontrolled surgical stress persists, recovery time may be prolonged, along with increased susceptibility to infections in the post-operative period. This review discusses the neurobiology and most relevant organic responses to pain and anesthetic-surgical stress in dogs and cats. It highlights the role of stress biomarkers and their influence on autonomous and demeanor aspects and emphasizes the importance of understanding and correlating all factors to provide a more accurate assessment of pain and animal welfare in dogs and cats throughout the surgical process.
ASPECTOS DA SUBJETIVIDADE NA QUESTÃO DE GÊNERO EM LUIS ALBERTO WARAT
Authors: Bertaso João Martins , Bertaso Candice Nunes
Published: February 2021

O ensaio pretende verificar a existência de um poder impessoal e simbolicamente instituído que disciplina a instituição da sociedade na determinação dos sujeitos sociais. O objetivo é verificar como o poder é inserido nas significações imaginárias das pessoas e o processo pelo qual, ambos os sexos estão recondicionando a forma de representação da sociedade, especificamente no que se refere aos seus papéis e espaços sociais. Assim, a questão do gênero é vinculada à construção da subjetividade e de que a ordem social natural totalitária produz uma subjetividade simbólica ilusória, mas determinante das relações sociais de poder e força. A categoria de gênero é colocada em discussão para demonstrar as implicações que o exercício do poder tem sobre a configuração da subjetividade masculina e feminina. O ensaio ancorou seu aporte teórico, sob o olhar do feminino, a partir de Luis Alberto Warat, além dos autores Alain Touraine, Gilles Lipovetky, Riane Eisler, Manuel Castells. Charles Taylor, Alex Honneth e Maria Rita Kehl.
Aislamiento social obligatorio: un análisis de sentimientos mediante machine learning
Authors: Arango Pastrana Carlos Alberto , Osorio Andrade Carlos Fernando
Published: February 2021

To reduce the rate of contagion by Covid-19, the Colombian government has adopted, among other measures, for mandatory isolation, with divided opinions, because despite helping to reduce the spread of the virus, it generates mental and economic problems that are difficult to overcome. The objective of this document was to analyze the underlying sentiments in the Twitter comments related to isolation, identifying the topics and words most frequently used in this context. A machine learning algorithm was built to identify sentiments in 72,564 posts and a social network analysis was applied establishing the most frequent topics in the data sets. The results suggest that the algorithm is highly accurate in classifying feelings. Also, as the isolation extends, comments related to the quarantine grow proportionally. Fear was identified as the predominant feeling throughout the period of confinement in Colombia.
Adaptación del sistema táctico de inteligencia para la toma de decisiones militares ante una pandemia
Authors: Vargas Eider Yovanny
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this work is to identify a tool that allows a military decision maker at the tactical level to manage the military resources available in the event of a pandemic. The research focused on finding and adapting an epidemiological mathematical model to process data collected in a military jurisdiction and with it the development of prospective scenarios in a military jurisdiction in the event of a pandemic. The results indicate that in the face of a pandemic, military decision makers must have a model of prospective scenarios and the adaptation of the intelligence process, especially the means of searching for information and the recording and analysis instruments to diligently manage the available resources. It is concluded that, given the appearance of a pandemic in a place with geographical conditions that hinder rapid accessibility and administrative support, military decision makers require a procedure that allows rapid adaptation to the new tactical scenario.
El perfil emprendedor en Paraguay, análisis de la población juvenil
Authors: Villalba Benítez Ever Federico , Ortega Carrasco Rolando Junior
Published: February 2021

The article starts with the question of What are the characteristics of the entrepreneurial profile of the Paraguayan youth population? For this, the work was developed with a quantitative approach, descriptive and prospective design. 5,972 questionnaires were applied in a national survey to young people in urban areas, aged 15 to 29 years. The main results allow inferring that the profile of the study population is characterized by an intermediate development of the guidelines that make up entrepreneurial behavior, variables such as: setting goals and demanding efficiency and quality stand out. However, some guidelines are considered underdeveloped, such as the abilities to seek opportunities, take calculated risks, plan tasks and fulfill commitments, as well as the abilities to persuade and create networks of contacts.
Aspectos clave del plan de negocios para emprender en el contexto colombiano
Authors: Cristancho Triana Gerson Jaquin , Ninco Hernández Fabian Arley , Cancino Gómez Yezid Alfonso , Alfonso Orjuela Laima Catherine , Ochoa Daza Pedro Elías
Published: February 2021

Entrepreneurs require business plan models academically validate that allow the correct structuring of business ideas, therefore the aim of this paper is to determine the most relevant components should have to include in a business plan from the expertise and perception both academics and graduated community, that favor the establishment of nascent ventures. It was developed descriptive and correlational research, non-experimental, transversal with a quantitative approach, 440 surveys were answered by academics, university students, and professional graduated. The results indicate that the legal component is the most relevant because to the legal context concerning the creation of a company, followed by the financial module due to the implications in the protection of shareholders and the possible risks and obligations; It should be noted that for academics, the logistics component is more relevant, In contrast, graduate professionals consider the strategic, the sales and marketing components be more significant.
Análisis de la información financiera en torno al informe del auditor de las empresas del MILA
Authors: Zamarra Londoño Julián Esteban , Gutiérrez Castañeda Belky Esperanza , Pérez Noreña Daniela
Published: February 2021

In the current enterprise context, the generation of transparent and good-quality financial and non-financial information is fundamental for adequate decision-making. Considering this context, this paper aims at evaluating the relationship between an audit report and the variation of the financial information of the companies who have a participation in the stock exchanges markets of the MILA countries over the period 2012- 2018. A quantitative approach was used in this investigation, using Logit and Probit models. As results, the outlined model predicts, to a great extent, that an auditor’s unqualified opinion translates into financial information variables’ positive behavior. Also, a great correlation between the audit firm, especially if it is a Big Four, and company income was found, which translates into favorable audit reports.
Labor Informalization and Social Problems in Indonesia in Gender Equality Study (Case Study of Layoffs as the Effect of Digitalization in Cirebon City in 2019)
Authors: Puspitasari Ratna , Wijaya Apriyanda Kusuma
Published: February 2021

As of March 31, 2019, the Cirebon City Giant Hyper market has been declared closed and does not carry out trading activities. Employees who are dominated by women are threatened with being dismissed and this creates widespread social problems in the community. As a result of these layoffs, it has led to the growth of labor informalization with the proliferation of street workers (PKL) or independent workers which will cause chaos in the arrangement of big cities, which will have an impact on social problems. This study tries to analyze the gender equality study of the Marx model with an ethnographic approach, trying to trace the causes and effects of the informalization that afflicts female workers in the city of Cirebon.
A Comparison of Fair Sharing Algorithms for Regulating Search as a Service API
Authors: Bagui Sikha , Fridge Evorell
Published: February 2021

Providers of a Search as a Service (SaaS) environment must ensure that their users will not monopolize the service or use more than their fair share of resources. Fair sharing algorithms have long been used in computer networking to balance access to a router or switch, and some of these algorithms have also been applied to the control of queries submitted to search engine APIs. If a search query’s execution cost can be reliably estimated, fair sharing algorithms can be applied to the input of a SaaS API to ensure everyone has equitable access to the search engine.

The novelty of this paper lies in presenting a Single-Server Max-Min Fair Deficit Round Robin algorithm, a modified version of the Multi-Server Max-Min Fair Deficit Round Robin algorithm. The Single-Server Max-Min Fair Deficit Round Robin algorithm is compared to three other fair sharing algorithms, token-bucket, Deficit Round Robin (DRR), and Peng and Plale’s [1] Modified Deficit Round Robin (MDRR) in terms of three different usage scenarios, balanced usage, unbalanced usage as well as an idle client usage, to determine which is the most suitable fair sharing algorithm for use in regulating traffic to a SaaS API. This research demonstrated that the Single-Server Max-Min Fair DRR algorithm provided the highest throughput of traffic to the search engine while also maintaining a fair balance of resources among clients by re-allocating unused throughput to clients with saturated queues so a max-min allocation was achieved.
Reciprocity and Political Justice inNicomachean EthicsBook V
Authors: Jagannathan Dhananjay
Published: February 2021

The profusion of senses of justice inNEV.1–7 has left many readers with a general impression of chaos, but also gives rise to pressing questions about Aristotle’s conception of justice. Specifically, (1) why does Aristotle claim that there are two parts to justice as equality, but go on to discuss three types of equality in the subsequent chapters? (2) What is the relationship between political justice and the distinction between general justice and particular justice? I argue in this essay that the notion of reciprocity, central to the first question, can also help us address the second. Specifically, I show that reciprocity is not a third species of particular justice, but rather a prior condition for political community and for political justice. Political justice is best understood as a redescription of particular justice that highlights how distributive and corrective justice maintain equality among citizens in an existing political community. In addition to explaining the unity of Aristotle’s thought in these chapters ofNEV, I demonstrate a number of philosophical consequences for understanding Aristotle’s conception of justice.
Diagnostic accuracy of Schistoso
ma
ICT Ig
G
-
IgM and comparison to other used techniques screening urinary schistosomiasis in Nigeria
Authors: Houmsou Robert Soumay , Wama Binga Emmanuel , Agere Hemen , Uniga John Ador , Jerry Timothy Jerry , Azuaga Paul , Amuta Elizabeth Une , Kela Santaya Larit
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Schistosomiasis is a blood fluke parasitic illness affecting human lives in rural endemic areas. This study evaluated the performance of Schistosoma
ICT Ig
G
-
IgM for screening urinary schistosomiasis in Nigeria.

Methods

Three hundred and seventy four (374) urine samples were examined. Reagent strips, urine filtration and Schistosoma
ICT Ig
G
-
IgM were used for analysis. Schistosoma
ICT Ig
G
-
IgM used 2 mL of each serum for serological examination. Then, 3 mL of each preserved serum was sent to LDBIO Diagnostics, France for re-examination with Schistosoma ICT IgG-IgM and confirmation with SCHISTO Western blot (WB) IgG. The performance of the index tests was determined using sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and positive likelihood ratio (PLR). The Youden index (YI) and diagnostic accuracy (DA) were used to determine the accuracy of each test. The statistical significance was at p-value ≤0.05.

Results

The test had a sensitivity of 94.9%, specificity of 63.9%, positive predictive value of 72.4%, negative predictive value of 92.6%, and positive likelihood ratio of 2.62. Schistosoma ICT Ig
G
-
IgM had a good Cohen’s kappa index (κ=0.68), good Youden index (YI=0.58) and good diagnostic accuracy (DA=0.78).

Conclusions

Schistosoma
ICT Ig
G
-
IgM has proven to be the best technique for the screening of urinary schistosomiasis in Nigeria.
Reversible-Deactivation Radical Polymerisation: chain polymerisation made simple
Authors: Bagheri Ali , Boniface Suzanne , Fellows Christopher M.
Published: February 2021

Reversible-Deactivation Radical Polymerisation (RDRP) is one of the most exciting developments in chemistry over the past few decades, but it is rarely mentioned when polymerisation mechanisms are introduced in the final years of secondary education or first years of tertiary education. We propose that this is unfortunate, as RDRP is simpler than conventional Radical Polymerisation both conceptually and in terms of setting quantitative problems, and that it illustrates several other important features of chemistry as a human endeavour: How essential mechanistic unities are hidden by the details of how we write a chemical reaction, how a ‘bug’ in one stage of development of a process can become a ‘feature’ in a later stage, and how exciting changes can occur quite suddenly in fields thought to be mature and uninteresting.
Should Fast-Food Franchisees Pursue Entrepreneurial Orientation?
Authors: Asgharian Ehsan , Tasavori Misagh , Andersén Jim
Published: February 2021

Although it is widely accepted that entrepreneurial orientation (EO) improves firm performance, scholars have advised that particular attention should be paid to the context. In this research, we investigate a less explored context of franchising where business systems and procedures are usually dictated to franchisees by franchisors. Therefore, whether a franchisor should allow franchisees to pursue EO (innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy) is not clear. In the context of franchising, the majority of prior studies have mainly focused on the employment of EO as a unidimensional construct and at the franchisor level. In this research, we take a bottom-up perspective and evaluate the impact of different dimensions of EO on franchisees’ performance. Our analysis of a multi-group of 183 restaurant franchisees located in Sweden and Iran reveals that only the pursuit of proactiveness and competitive aggressiveness improves a franchisee’s performance and other dimensions do not play a significant role in improving performance in this context.
Independence of the Prosecution Service: European Approaches
Authors: Fiodorova Anna
Published: February 2021

Nowadays, a modern state without the institution of prosecution could rarely be found. It is considered one of the crucial elements for the proper functioning of the system of justice and for the application of the rule of law through such functions as carrying out of pre-trial investigation and / or the prosecution in criminal matters, safeguarding social interests, and judicial independence. The objective of this article is to provide a brief reflection on the necessity and the content of the independence of the modern prosecutor’s office. The article is based on the policy tendencies used in the Council of Europe and the European Union and with the more profound analysis of the legal regulation of the Spanish prosecutor’s office and its conformity with these tendencies.
The COVID-19 Post -lockdown Italian Scenario from an Eco -Socio-Legal Perspective
Authors: Trabucco Fabio Ratto
Published: February 2021

This paper offers an analysis of the possible COVID-19 post-lockdown effects on the powerful factors that constitute the Italian national interest. The interdisciplinary perspective, being at the base of this study, considers a scenario characterized by three factors: time, budgetary policy, and communication. Since the social post-lockdown crisis began, Italy has been facing a problem of social justice in terms of participation, which is absent for now, especially in the political framework. The policy proposals should take account of unpopular decisions, whereas from a legal and geopolitical perspective it is necessary to have a more defined foreign policy, a clearer Italian positioning concerning international alliances with national interest as a reference point.
Winding up of open pension funds (OFE-s) in the context of Poland’s fiscal situation
Authors:   University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw, Gołębiowski Grzegorz , Russel Piotr ,   Collegium of Management and Finance, SGH Warsaw
Published: February 2021

Purpose – The aim of the paper is to assess changes in the functioning of open pension funds (OFE-s) in the context of Poland’s fiscal situation. These changes are beneficial from the point of view of the current condition of the public finance sector, however in the longer term they may have a negative impact on Poland’s fiscal situation. Research method – The authors analysed and processed data and information available from Eurostat, the Central Statistical Office, publications from the Ministry of Finance, the stooq.pl portal listing quotes on the financial market and publications in which the authors estimated hidden debt in Poland. Based on the analysis undertaken, conclusions relating to the studied problem were formulated. Results – The changes initiated in 2011 and consisting in limiting the significance of the capital pillar of the social security system in Poland (OFE-s), and subsequently planned in 2020, the final liquidation of open pension funds has a positive effect on the current condition of the public finance sector in Poland limiting the borrowing needs of the state, the deficit and registered public debt. The changes weaken Poland’s fiscal position as they contribute to a significant increase in hidden debt recorded on individual accounts and sub-accounts at the Social Insurance Institution. Originality /value – It was proved that in the years 2013-2019 the indexation rate (measured by the geometric mean) of funds on pension sub-accounts at the Social Insurance Institution was 36.7% higher than the profitability of 10-year treasury bonds, thus generating additional hidden debt. The analysis also indicated the possible negative long-term consequences for Poland’s fiscal situation resulting from the final liquidation of open pension funds.
Organic payments as a form of support for organic agriculture in Poland
Authors:   Collegium of Finance, University of Economics in Katowice, Jarczok-Guzy Magdalena
Published: February 2021

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to conduct empirical research which contributes to determining the interest in enjoying organic payments made to farmers under the “Rural Areas Development Program” in the area of the Framework Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming in Poland. Research method – The method of a literature review and analysis coupled with statistical analysis based on the calculation of structure, dynamics and correlation indicators were used in the work. The dynamics of organic payments received by farmers during the period 2014-2018 was assessed. A comparison was also made of the value of organic farming payments with budget expenditure on agriculture in Poland. Results – The obtained correlation coefficients were utilised to assess the relationship between the expenditure under the program and the expenditure of the state budget on agriculture. The correlation coefficient calculated for the number of beneficiaries and the value of ecological payments is 0.17201. The correlation coefficient for the value of organic payments and the value of budget expenditure on agriculture and hunting is -0.3406167. Originality /value/ implications /recommendations – An attempt was made to evaluate the role of organic payments in Poland as a form of motivating farmers to undertake organic production. Since 2014, the number of organic processing plants has increased by 88%. The decrease in the number of producers and increase in the number of processing plants may indicate a change in the structure of the supply chain in the area of organic food.