bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Extubation is Associated with Improved Outcomes After Complete Surgical Repair of Pulmonary Atresia with Ventricular Septal Defect and Hypoplastic Pulmonary Arteries in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Li Yinan , Jia Yuan , Wang Hongbai , Wu Xie , Li Shoujun , Yan Fuxia , Yuan Su
Published: October 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of an early extubation strategy on outcomes following complete repair of pulmonary atresia, ventricular septal defect, and hypoplastic pulmonary artery. Methods: 113 patients undergoing complete repair surgery of pulmonary atresia, ventricular septal defect, and hypoplastic pulmonary artery between 2016 and 2018 were included in our retrospective propensity-score matched study. Propensity score matching was conducted in 1 to 2 ratio to balance the covariables impacting on clinical outcomes between groups. The primary outcomes were defined as length of intensive care unit stay, postoperative length of hospital stay and in-hospital medical cost. The secondary outcomes included postoperative complications such as re-intubation, re-exploration, in-hospital mortality, arrhythmia and etc.. In addition, blood product consumption were also abstracted.Results: Compared with matched controls, patients in the early extubation group were demonstrated with a significant reduced length of intensive care unit stay (Median: 1.9 d νs. 4.1 d, p=0.039), postoperative length of hospital stay (Median: 9.0 d νs. 17.0 d, p=0.007) and in-hospital medical cost (Median: 69.5×1000CNY νs. 17.0×1000CNY, p=0.041). As for the postoperative complications, the occurrence of re-intubation, re-exploration, in-hospital mortality, arrhythmia and renal replacement therapy was similar between groups. However, pulmonary complications (p=0.049) were with a significantly lower rate in the early extubation group. In addition, fresh frozen plasma (p=0.041) transfusion volume were significantly reduced in the early extubation group rather than packed red blood cells and platelets. Conclusions: Early extubation following complete repair of pulmonary atresia improved clinical outcomes and reduced in-hospital medical cost without increasing any postoperative complications.
A Multi-epitope Peptide rOmp22 Encapsulated in Chitosan-PLGA Nanoparticles as Vaccine Candidate Against Acinetobacter baumannii Infection
Authors: Du Xingran , Xue Jianpeng , Jiang Mingzi , Lin Shaoqing , Huang Yuzhen , Deng Kaili , Shu Lei , Xu Hanmei , Li Zeqing , Yao Jing , Chen Sixia , Shen Ziyan , Feng Ganzhu
Published: October 2020

Background: Development of vaccine is a promising and cost-effective strategy to prevent emerging multi-drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii infections. The purpose of this study was to prepare a multi-epitope peptide nanovaccine and evaluate its immunogenicity and protective effect in BALB/c mice.Results: The B-cell and T-cell epitopes of Omp22 from A. baumannii were predicted using bioinformatics method and identified by immunological experiments. Three dominant B-cell epitopes and two T-cell epitopes were linked in series and chemically synthesized to generate multi-epitope peptide rOmp22. Then, rOmp22 was encapsulated by chitosan (CS) and polylactic acid glycolic acid (PLGA) to prepare CS-PLGA-rOmp22 nanoparticles (NPs). CS-PLGA-rOmp22 NPs were small (mean size of 272.83 nm) with apparently spherical structural, positively charged (4.39 mV) and exhibited nontoxicity to A549 cells. We achieved a high encapsulation efficiency (54.94%) and a continuous slow release pattern. Compared with non-encapsulated rOmp22, CS-PLGA-rOmp22 induced more rOmp22-specific IgG in serum and IFN-γ in splenocyte supernatant. Vaccination with CS-PLGA-rOmp22 decreased lung injury, suppressed bacterial burdens in the lung and blood, provided potent protection (57.14%-83.3%) against acute lethal intratracheal A. baumannii challenge in BALB/c mice.Conclusions: CS-PLGA-rOmp22 NPs could elicit specific IgG antibody, Th1 cellular immunity and protection against acute lethal intratracheal A. baumannii challenge. Our results indicate this nanovaccine is a disirable candidate to prevent A. baumannii infection.
Fluid-injection induced earthquakes characterized by hybrid-frequency waveforms manifest the transition from aseismic to seismic slip
Authors: Yu Hongyu , Harrington Rebecca , Kao Honn , Liu Yajing , Wang Bei
Published: October 2020

Aseismic slip loading has recently been proposed as a complementary mechanism for moderate earthquakes (M3+) induced over the short operational period of hydraulic fracturing stimulations but located several kilometers away from the wellbore. However, aseismic/slow slip signals linked to fluid injection-induced earthquakes remain largely undocumented to date. Here we report a new type of induced seismic signal consisting of an impulsive broadband onset followed by protracted low-frequency ringing. Earthquakes characterized by hybrid-frequency waveforms (EHWs) differ from ordinary induced earthquakes by having broader P and S-pulses (implying longer source durations) and lower corner frequencies (implying either slower rupture speeds, lower stress drop values, or a combination of both). The characteristics described above are identical to low-frequency earthquakes found in plate boundary zones. EHWs could thus manifest the source process that bridges the slow (aseismic) slip inferred by recent modeling and observations near the wellbore to seismic slip at greater distances.
Health status and health behaviour of the Hungarian homeless people
Authors: Nagy-Borsy Emese , Vági Zsolt , Skerlecz Petra , Szeitl Blanka , Kiss István , Rákosy Zsuzsa
Published: October 2020

Background Homelessness has risen recently in Europe, but there is lack of comprehensive health data on this population. Our aim was to characterize the health of the Hungarian homeless population.Methods We performed a health survey with 453 homeless individuals. The results were compared to the age and sex standardized data of the general Hungarian population and its lowest income quintile from the European Health Interview Survey 2014. The differences by the ETHOS classification within the homeless population were also studied.Results Significantly fewer homeless people reported good health status than in the general population or in its lowest income quintile (p < 0.001). Of the participants 70% had at least one chronic disease, only 41% of them visited a GP and 35% took medication in the previous 12 months. While 59% of the lowest income quintile and 50% of the general population had at least one chronic disease, almost all of them visited a physician and took medication. The highest prevalence of morbidity (80%) and multimorbidity (46%) was reported in the houseless group. The majority of the homeless people were current smokers, the prevalence was much higher than in the two reference populations (p < 0.001). The prevalence of heavy drinkers was the highest among the roofless participants (40%).Conclusions Homeless people have much poorer health and they utilize health services less than the most disadvantaged quintile of the general population. There is a clear social gradient within the homeless population, as well, which calls for integrated approaches for specific interventions to improve their health.
Geographically varying relationships of COVID-19 mortality with different factors in India
Authors: Middya Asif Iqbal , Roy Sarbani
Published: October 2020

COVID-19 is a global crisis where India is going to be one of the most heavily affected countries. The variability in the distribution of COVID-19-related health outcomes might be related to many underlying variables, including demographic, socioeconomic, or environmental pollution related factors. The global and local models can be utilized to explore such relations. In this study, ordinary least square (global) and geographically weighted regression (local) methods are employed to explore the geographical relationships between COVID-19 deaths and different driving factors. It is also investigated whether geographical heterogeneity exists in the relationships. More specifically, in this paper, the geographical pattern of COVID-19 deaths and its relationships with different potential driving factors in India are investigated and analysed. Here, better knowledge and insights into geographical targeting of intervention against the COVID-19 pandemic can be generated by investigating the heterogeneity of spatial relationships. The results show that the local method (geographically weighted regression) generates better performance (R2 = 0:973) with smaller Akaike Information Criterion (AICc = -77:93) as compared to the global method (ordinary least square). The GWR method also comes up with lower spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s I = -0.0436 and p < 0:01) in the residuals. It is found that more than 87.5% of local R2 values are larger than 0.60 and almost 60% of R2 values are within the range 0:80 - 0:97. Moreover, some interesting local variations in the relationships are also found.
The Impact of Motivation on Work Efficiency for Both Employers and Employees also During COVID-19 Pandemic: Case Study from Armenia
Authors: Tovmasyan Gayane , Minasyan Diana
Published: October 2020

The article summarizes the main arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on motivation and its impact on work efficiency. The main goal of the research is to analyze the impact of motivation on work efficiency for both employees and employers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematization of the literary sources on motivation indicates that there are different factors of motivation. Some people are motivated by intrinsic factors, while others by extrinsic. Also, the discussion of some recent studies revealed the influence of pandemic on the motivation of people to work remotely. The majority wants to work from the office as face-to-face contacts and collaboration derives innovation. Analysis in the paper for Armenia is carried out in the following logical sequence: a survey is done, which reveals how employees and employers evaluate the impact of motivation on their work efficiency, which factors of motivation they value, also their suggestions for improving the motivation policy in their workplaces. Methodological tools of the research methods were analysis and synthesis, survey, Pearson Chi square testing. The study reveals that people mainly appreciate both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors. From the material incentives which are more important for respondents, the most popular are salaries, rewards and health insurance, and from nonmaterials – career advancement, healthy moral and psychological atmosphere of the organization, flexible work schedule, fair and equal conditions, training courses. According to employees, the organization’s motivation policy affects their work efficiency and plays an essential role in the organization’s success. This fact is also proved by the statistical testing, that the relationship between these two factors is significant. The main reasons why employees leave the job may be the low salary, conflicts in the team, and the impossibility of career advancement. According to employers, employees are most interested in material incentives. The survey also reveals that people are most motivated when they are in the workplace, and for only 12% of respondents remotely working is motivating. It shows that in Armenia, people prefer to work from the office. The results have both theoretical and practical significance. It may be useful for organizations to improve motivation policy by changing the available problems, especially after the pandemic.

Keywords: Motivation, Work Efficiency, Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors, COVID-19, Remotely Work.
The Shadow Economy: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Zolkover Andrii , Terziev Venelin
Published: October 2020

The article deals with the analysis of the areas of research related to the shadow economy. The results of analyses show that financial market and financial intermediates become an essential part of the issues and that the topic of the problem of poverty among the urban population, low income, drugs abuse and problems of female employment, gender inequity in income in the papers which analyzed the shadow economy issues are very popular. The aim of the paper is to analyze the tendency in the scientific literature on the shadow economy to identify future research directions. For the analysis, the tools of VOSviewer, Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) analyses were used. This study is based on 5361 papers from Scopus and 3773 papers from Web of Science. The time sample of research was not limited for analysis. Time analysis showed that in 2014-2015 the number of papers dealing the shadow economy began to increase. At the same time, the focal point of research moved from general issues (estimation of shadow sector, impact on labour market etc.) to problem of transition from the informal to the formal Economy. In 2019 the number of papers which analyzed the the shadow economy was increased by 95 % compared with the 2014 year, according to Scopus database – by 29%. Mostly the papers with keyword “shadow” (informal, hidden etc.) economy were published under the following subject area, according to Scopus: Social science; Economics, Econometrics and Finance; Business, Management and Accounting; Environmental Science; Arts and Humanities, and according to WoS: Business Economics; Sociology; Public Administration; Government Law; Development Studies; Social Sciences Other Topics; Environmental Sciences Ecology; Area Studies. Most articles focused on shadow economy were published by the scientists from the USA, United Kingdom, India, Germany and South Africa. In 2019 considering the findings from Scopus the high ranked Studies in Systems Decision and Control, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Contemporary Asia, Cities stated to publish papers devoted to shadow economy. Such results prove that informal economy theme and its transition to formal is in the ongoing trends of the modern regulation. The findings from VOSviewer identified six clusters of the papers which investigate the shadow economy from the different points of views. The first most significant cluster merged the paper which contained the keywords as follows: informal sector, informal economy, unemployment, gender, urban economy, labour market, corruption etc. The papers in the second largest cluster deal with poverty among urban population, low income, drugs abuse and problems of female employment, gender inequity in income. The third biggest cluster focuses on criminal and ecological aspects of shadow economy.

Keywords: Shadow Economy, Shadow Sector of Economy, Informal Economy, Informal Sector of Economy, Underground Economy, Underground Sector of Economy, Hidden Economy, Hidden Sector of Economy.
Fostering Entrepreneurial Mentoring Culture for Sustainable Leadership Performance in Nigeria: Evidence from Selected SMEs in Ilorin Metropolis
Authors: Brimah Bolatito Amudat , Rabiu Rukayat Oloruntoyin , Bamidele Ayodeji Gbenga , Sheu Musa Olojeola
Published: October 2020

The human resources are the most important resources an organization can boast of in the 21st century, since it ensures the efficient and effective utilization of other types of resources, hence their continuous development. One of the ways of developing human resources is through entrepreneurial mentoring. Mentoring is among the few tools needed for preparing tomorrows’ skilled employees and is also used to strengthen organizational capabilities, intelligence, build organization knowledge, and sustain the organization competitive advantage. The dynamic career environment heightens the need for entrepreneurs engaging other people in their career and personal development. This study examined the effect of entrepreneurial mentoring on performance of SMEs in Kwara State. Data for the study were obtained from primary sources with the aid of a structured questionnaire. The research design adopted was a descriptive survey design which was also cross sectional in nature. Data collected were analyzed and hypotheses were tested using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of significance. Findings revealed that psychosocial mentoring support, career mentoring support and role modelling mentoring support all had significant relationship with SMEs performance as all their respective p values were less than 0.05 alpha values. Effective and efficient mentorship programs tend to raise entrepreneurial outcomes among upcoming entrepreneurs operating SMEs. Based on the findings of this study, the study concludes that there is significant relationship between psychosocial mentoring support and SMEs performance; there is also significant relationship between career mentoring support and SMEs performance, there is significant relationship between role modeling mentoring support and SMEs performance. The study recommends that SMEs owners must be steadfast in fostering an entrepreneurial mentoring culture within the organisation. Also, SMEs owners must be steadfast in continuously providing sponsorship, coaching, exposure, visibility, protection and providing challenging assignments to employees. Also, succession planning must be continually improved and sustained.

Keywords: Entrepreneurial Mentoring, Culture, Leadership, Performance, SMEs, Nigeria
The Rhetoric Of Celebrity Endorsement Strategy And Consumer Purchase Intention On Fast Moving Consumer Goods Among Al-Hikmah University Undergraduate Students
Authors: Brimah B. A. , Olanipekun W. D. , Olorunlambe G. A. , Salawu S.
Published: October 2020

The ultimate goal of any business organization is to be prosperous in today’s increasingly competitive and dynamic markets where the cost of acquiring new customers has been found to be exponentially greater than that of maintaining existing ones, firms must continually explore ways of achieving higher customer retention rates. The building of a reputable brand image in the mind of the consumers is especially enhanced through the use of endorsers or spokespersons in the firm’s marketing communications; and celebrities are among the persons commonly used as endorsers or spokespersons in this regard. The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of celebrity endorsement on consumer purchase intention of consumer goods. Primary data through a structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from University undergraduate students. Hypothesis were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient (PPMCC) and Multiple Regression Analysis. Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that there are factors that significantly influences consumer purchase intention of celebrity endorsed products. Also, there is significant relationship between celebrity endorsement and consumer purchase intention. Similarly, celebrity endorsements significantly impact consumer purchase intention. It was therefore recommended that the strategy and creative execution of all celebrity endorsement deals should be one that will reinforce strongly and consistently the celebrity brand association to ensure that celebrities do not only evoke positive retains, but helps focus attention on the brand in the advertising.

Keywords: celebrity endorsement, strategy, brand equity, consumer goods, purchase intention.
Measuring Regional Economic Growth In Jordan
Authors: Aljaloudi Jameel
Published: October 2020

This research aims to measure the regional disparities in Jordan’s economic growth during 2010-2017. As an indicator to measure the economic growth in each region is the regional factor (R) adopted, and for estimation the regional factor is the Shift and Share method used. This method is widely used by geographical economist. The annual average of household income, as economic indicator, to estimate the regional factor in this study will be adopted. Data on annual household income were taken from the expenditure and income surveys prepared by the Jordanian General Statistics Department in year 2010 and year 2017. The results of this study indicate that economic growth in Irbid region and Mafraq region was greater than the national growth, while the rest of the regions have had much slower economic growth compared to national growth during the study period. Expect Amman region, the capital of Jordan, showed similar economic growth to national level. The results of the research indicate that the region’s share of income increased for regions that achieved high economic growth and in return this share was reduced to the values that showed low growth and lower than the rate of national economic growth. The least economically developed regions are the regions in the south of the country, despite the development policies in the field of balanced regional development, but because of the lack of infrastructure, they are still unable to reduce the development gap between the regions in Jordan. The study recommended the need for the government to enable the regions to accelerate regional development as well as reduction in the development gap between them by devolving administrative and financial powers from the central level to the regional level. It also recommended the need to support investment, especially in the less developed regions.

Keywords: economic growth, regional economics, income distribution, development planning, decentralization.
DEA-Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of The Country’s Information Security System
Authors: Yarovenko Hanna , Kuzmenko Olha , Stumpo Mario
Published: October 2020

The consequences of the fourth industrial revolution caused an increase in the level of computerization and digitalization of society, which led to problems related to the protection of information of individual users, companies and the state as a whole. The aim of this paper is to analyze the effectiveness of the information security system of countries in terms of its ability to counter information threats. Two groups of input indicators were used for this purpose. The first group was formed by 12 indicators of the country’s world development, which were selected from the World Bank database and based on the results of correlation analysis. The second group includes 5 information technology indicators that characterize certain areas of information security: information technology development, digitalization of the country, countries’ commitment to cybersecurity, readiness to counter cyber threats and use the latest information and communication technologies. The country’s information security threat index is used as a starting point. Data from 159 countries of the world for 2018 were taken for the analysis, as for this number of countries and period there is a complete set of data on selected indicators. Country data were considered based on clusters, which allowed the use of 7 groups. The analysis was performed using the analytical tool Frontier Analyst. The study built CRR and BCC models, among which CRR was preferred, which allowed a more critical assessment of the potential of countries. The paper analyzes the structural effectiveness of socio-economic development indicators and information security indicators of countries, considering the current level of the information security threat index. As a result, the following were identified: an increase in government security spending for zero-cluster countries; the need to transform the information technology component for the countries of the first and second clusters; increasing personal protection, strengthening corruption control and legal regulation for third cluster countries; the need for economic growth and higher social standards for the fourth, fifth and sixth clusters. The obtained models allowed us to estimate the maximum level of growth of the information security threat index with the available resource potential of the country. As a result, it was found that the largest increase in the information security threat index is possible due to the existing potential of the countries of the zero and fifth clusters, which will increase the effectiveness of their response to information threats.

Keywords: BBC-model, CCR-model, Data Envelopment Analysis, socio-economic development, information, threat, security.
An Artificial Inoculation Method to Select Mature Onion Bulbs Resistant to Fusarium Basal Rot
Authors: Mandal Subhankar , Cramer Christopher S.
Published: October 2020

Fusarium basal rot (FBR) of onion, which is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae (Hanzawa) Snyder & Hansen (FOC) results in a substantial loss of marketable bulbs worldwide. One of the main reasons for the lack of FBR-resistant short-day cultivars is the unreliable screening methods available for the mature bulb stage when significant economic damage occurs. The objective of this study was to develop an artificial inoculation method with better quantification of inoculum for an effective selection of FBR-resistant mature onion bulbs. Mature bulbs of seven New Mexican short-day onion cultivars, along with susceptible and tolerant controls, were selected and evaluated for FBR resistance using mycelial and conidial inoculation methods, respectively. Transversely cut basal plates of mature bulbs were inoculated artificially with mycelia or conidia (12 × 105 spores/mL in 2014 and 3 × 105 spores/mL in 2015 embedded in potato dextrose agar plug) of a virulent FOC isolate ‘CSC-515’. Mature bulb evaluation using a visual rating scale (1 = no disease; 9 = >70% basal plate infected) revealed a high degree of FBR severity and incidence irrespective of the genetic background of the cultivars, minimizing the chance of disease escape, which is a significant problem in field inoculation. An attempt to inoculate intact basal plates postharvest resulted in minimal disease development, suggesting that mechanical resistance was conferred by the dry outer layer of the basal plate. The high selection pressure conferred by the conidial inoculation method developed in this study can effectively screen FBR-resistant onion bulbs to replace an unreliable field screening. Concentrations of the conidia lower than 3 × 105 spores/mL are recommended to detect subtle genetic differences in FBR resistance among the onion cultivars and their selected population.
Strategic Planning in a Medical Research Organization: Case Study
Authors: Bacina Ekaterina , Popsuyko Artem , Artamonova Galina
Published: October 2020

The fundamental and applied value of strategic planning is in the formation of technologies for the long-term development of organizations based on the existing trends and business environment. Modern healthcare institutions are to use the best domestic and foreign practices in order to provide high-quality medical services, achieve strategic goals, and develop healthcare industry. The research objective was to share experience in strategic planning of a medical research organization. The authors used methods of analysis, synthesis, generalization, and abstraction, as well as elements of system analysis, to formalize the process of strategic management. The article describes the strategic planning conducted at the Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases (Kemerovo, Russia). Strategic planning is a process of setting key goals and maintaining the strategic potential of changing requirements for Russian scientific and medical organizations. The described experience is unique in that the strategic planning is organizationally and functionally integrated into the model of quality management system, which includes 14 processes grouped in several blocks. The Institute develops a road map for one or two years, which agrees the actions of the main stakeholders. In a scientific medical organization, the process of strategic goal setting is determined by the need to conduct research while simultaneously providing medical care. The authors believe that the described process can be implemented only after the existing strategic planning methods have been adapted to the specifics of the organization. At the present stage, strategic planning is the only way to formally predict future problems and opportunities for the development of medical research organizations.
Digital Tools for Managing Innovative Infrastructure
Authors: Stupina Alena , Berg Tat'yana , Korpacheva Larisa
Published: October 2020

The digital transformation of the economy and the conceptual changes in developing new consumer value predetermined new types of interaction between participants in innovation activities. These changes affected the elements of innovative infrastructure, which ensures effective production of open innovations. The increasing communication of innovation process participants remains a problem of innovative infrastructure performance, which requires new forms and configurations based on digital platform solutions. Modern information and communication technologies and their implementation in the innovative infrastructure will reduce investment costs for creation and maintenance of physical objects and decrease the time spent on searching, exchanging, and processing information of innovation process participants. The article considers the innovative infrastructure as an interaction system of subsystems based on digital platforms. The system provides downloadable information and innovative solutions. The paper focuses on the information subsystem of innovative infrastructure, its components, digital platforms, and services. The authors define distributed and integrated technologies for managing innovative infrastructure that provide communications in a single ecosystem of heterogeneous information network services of innovation process participants. The authors introduce effective mathematical tools of modified GERT networks for modeling computational data processing in heterogeneous environments of digital services of innovative infrastructure.
Improving the Strategic Planning of Agricultural Development in the Region
Authors: Timofeeva Natalya
Published: October 2020

Agricultural producers are currently experiencing difficulties in competitive production. As a result, strategic plans for agricultural development require constant adjustments. To improve the strategic planning in the local agriculture, the region needs an effective system that would ensure a continuous functioning process and competitive production. The research objective was to develop proposals in order to improve the strategic planning of regional agricultural development. The study was based on general scientific methods, i.e. synthesis, analysis, abstract-logical and economic-mathematical methods of economic research, etc. The author obtained materials from the Territorial Department of the Federal State Statistics Service and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Buryatia for 2018. The article introduces an analysis of the current development of strategic planning in agriculture and socio-economic problems of agricultural development in the Republic of Buryatia. The author developed some recommendations on the process of strategic planning of agricultural development. Competitive agricultural development requires an integrated approach that could ensure effective development of strategic plans and agricultural producers. The proposed strategic planning process will allow farmers to develop effective strategic plans while producing competitive products.
Analysis of scour depth in the case of parallel bridges using HEC-RAS
Authors: Mehta Darshan J. , Yadav S. M.
Published: October 2020

Scour is now one of the main problems for river as well as for coastline engineering. Bridges are the vital structures which must be designed to prevent failure against the effects of scour. Scour holes can occur without warning and cause the failure of a bridge. The main significant issues in hydraulic and river engineering are to determine the connection between parameters affecting the maximum and minimum depth of scour. The scour depth in the alluvial stream below a river bed differs based on the flows, pier shape, pier size and sediment characteristics. Dual bridges of basically the same structure are placed parallel to and only a small distance away from an existing bridge, either on the upstream or downstream side. Naturally, the backwater generated by dual bridges is bigger than that of a single bridge but lower than the value resulting from separate consideration of the two bridges. In the present work, an hydraulic model is used to simulate the stability of a bridge in the study area, namely ‘Sardar Bridge’ on the Tapi river. Scour profiles for various flood events have been assessed for a particular bridge. The velocity of flow is used to estimate depths of scour at different piers and abutments. Estimating depth of the scour during the design can significantly decrease the overall cost of bridge foundation construction. Results from the present study show that construction of a new bridge should be proposed on the upstream side rather than downside side of the existing bridge. By doing so, hydraulic stability of the existing bridge is ensured.
A surrogate-based simulation–optimization approach for coastal aquifer management
Authors: Han Zheng , Lu Wenxi , Fan Yue , Lin Jin , Yuan Qian
Published: October 2020

This study proposed a pumping-injection (P-I) groundwater management strategy based on a simulation–optimization (S-O) framework to mitigate seawater intrusion (SI). The methodology was applied to a real case in Longkou, China. A three-dimensional variable-density groundwater simulation model was established to simulate and predict the SI process. In the S-O framework, while solving the optimization model, it is required to call the simulation model thousands of times, which leads to enormous computational load. In this case, the Kriging and support vector regression (SVR) surrogate models were established for the simulation model respectively. Furthermore, the ensemble surrogate modeling technique was applied to construct the Kriging-SVR ensemble surrogate model. The most accurate surrogate model was selected as the substitute for the simulation model, saving considerable computing costs. The results show that the ensemble surrogate model performs better than the stand-alone surrogate models in accuracy, indicating that combining stand-alone surrogate models is a potential modeling method for the surrogate model of the variable-density groundwater simulation model. By solving the optimization model, the optimal pumping and injection schemes under different scenarios were obtained. The optimization results demonstrate that the proposed methodology is effective and stable in coastal groundwater management.
Contemporary challenges and ways to improve health risk assessment and management
Authors:   Federal Research Center of Hygiene named after F.F. Erisman, 2 Semashko Str., Mytishchi, 141014, Russian Federation, Rakitskii V.N. , Kuz'min S.V. ,   Federal Research Center of Hygiene named after F.F. Erisman, 2 Semashko Str., Mytishchi, 141014, Russian Federation, Avaliani S.L. ,   Federal Research Center of Hygiene named after F.F. Erisman, 2 Semashko Str., Mytishchi, 141014, Russian Federation, Shashina T.A. ,   Federal Research Center of Hygiene named after F.F. Erisman, 2 Semashko Str., Mytishchi, 141014, Russian Federation, Dodina N.S. ,   Federal Research Center of Hygiene named after F.F. Erisman, 2 Semashko Str., Mytishchi, 141014, Russian Federation, Kislitsin V.A. ,   Federal Research Center of Hygiene named after F.F. Erisman, 2 Semashko Str., Mytishchi, 141014, Russian Federation
Published: October 2020

We analyzed basic trends in improving risk assessment and management in Russia taking into account international experience; these trends arise from needs occurring in contemporary hygienic science and necessity to provide stronger resistance against new threats to population health. We substantiated specific tasks in development of health risk analysis mythology basing on preconditions for finding solutions to them in Russia; we also determined practical issues in its implementation that are the most vital and need solutions in the nearest future in order to eliminate adverse impacts on the environment and population health. The primary results are creation of a long-term strategy for the development of health risk analysis principles that takes into account the latest scientific data and is aimed at solving the following methodological and practical tasks: implementation of a systemic approach in estimating carcinogenic / non-carcinogenic risks; development of a unified approach to accomplishing toxicological «dose – response» examinations and interpreting their results which will take into account background morbidity and background dose burdens and determine susceptible population groups and behavioral models; threshold levels obtained via determining «benchmark» concentrations taking spontaneous background into account in order to determine new RfD and RfC and revise existing ones; use of micronvironmental approach in exposure estimation; use of risk assessment methodology in BAT parameters implementation for providing control over health safety after new approaches aimed at reducing emissions have been implemented in environmental protection. The necessity to improve approaches to health risk assessment and management and tasks solved within the process have been taken into account when the Branch scientific research program for 2021–2025 was developed by Rospotrebnadzor.
Hygienic assessment of aerogenic exposure to particulate matter and its impacts on morbidity with respiratory diseases among children living in a zone influenced by emissions from metallurgic production
Authors:   Federal Service for Surveillance over Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, Krasnoyarsk Region office, 21 Karatanova Str., Krasnoyarsk, 660049, Russian Federation, Tikhonova I.V. , Zemlyanova M.A. ,   Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies, 82 Monastyrskaya Str., Perm, 614045, Russian Federation, Kol'dibekova Yu.V. ,   Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies, 82 Monastyrskaya Str., Perm, 614045, Russian Federation, Peskova E.V. ,   Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies, 82 Monastyrskaya Str., Perm, 614045, Russian Federation, Ignatova A.M. ,   Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies, 82 Monastyrskaya Str., Perm, 614045, Russian Federation
Published: October 2020

At present an outstanding task is to concentrate on chemical and fractional structure when examining and assessing influence exerted by particulate matter on morbidity among children. The main goal of any such research is to prevent negative effects produced on the respiratory organs. Our research objects were ambient air in residential areas contaminated with particulate matter that were components in emissions from non-ferrous metallurgic enterprises (the test territory) and ambient air in residential areas free of such contamination; morbidity among children was also given our attention. Our assessment of ambient air quality as per РМ10 and РМ2.5 contents revealed they exceeded the standards recommended by the WHO and were by 1.4 times higher than recommended MPCa.d. Respirable fraction of particulate matter tends to have complicated chemical structure and contains metals that are specific for emissions from metallurgic enterprises such as nickel, copper, iron, aluminum, titanium, gallium, and neodymium. The latter can enhance negative effects produced by particulate matter on the respiratory organs. Epidemiologic assessment in a contaminated zone (the test territory) allowed establishing 1.8 times higher general and primary morbidity as per respiratory organs diseases than on the reference territory; it was even up to 14.8 times higher as per specific nosologies such as chronic disease of tonsils and adenoids, asthma, and status asthmaticus. We also established authentic dependence between probability of respiratory diseases and elevated concentrations of particulate matter in ambient air. Results of the proven dependence allow predicting up to 500/1000 additional respiratory diseases cases per year on the test territory; all these additional morbidity cases among children are associated with aerogenic exposure to particulate matter.
Assessing efficiency of pre-ammonization aimed at reducing carcinogenic risks caused by trihalomethanes in drinking water
Authors:   Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in Rostov Region, Taganrog Office, 16a Bol'shoi Ave., Taganrog, 347930, Russian Federation, Deryabkina L.A. , Marchenko B.I. ,   Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in Rostov Region, Taganrog Office, 16a Bol'shoi Ave., Taganrog, 347930, Russian Federation,   Southern Federal University, 105/42 Bol'shaya Sadovaya Str., Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation, Plugotarenko N.K. ,   Southern Federal University, 105/42 Bol'shaya Sadovaya Str., Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation, Yukhno A.I. ,   Southern Federal University, 105/42 Bol'shaya Sadovaya Str., Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation
Published: October 2020

In most Russian regions there is still a pressing issue related to providing population with high quality and safe drinking water. Up to now, chlorination has been the primary technique applied to disinfect drinking water as it is highly efficient, reliable, and relatively cheap. However, when chlorine is used to disinfect natural water that contains organic pollutants, it results in risks of by-products occurrence. These products are trihalomethanes, epigenetic carcinogenesis promoters that cause elevated carcinogenic risks under oral, inhalation, and subcutaneous exposure. Our research goal was to hygienically assess efficiency of pre-ammonization applied in water treatment procedures in order to prevent occurrence of carcinogenic organic chlorine compounds during chlorination and to minimize carcinogenic risks. We determined trihalomethanes and residual chlorine contents in model samples of natural water taken from a surface water source after chlorination with different doses of chlorine. We examined 52 pair parallel samples that had undergone pre-ammonization with ammonia sulfate and control ones. Trihalomethanes concentrations were determined in model water samples with gas-liquid chromatography. Basing on the results obtained via experiments on laboratory chlorination of river water, we determined quantitative characteristics and built regression models showing dependence between concentrations of organic chlorine compounds occurring due to chlorination (chloroform, dichlorobrommethane, dibromchloromethane) and chlorine doses and preammonization parameters. It was established that pre-ammonization was the most efficient in terms of preventing trihalomethanes occurrence under such disinfection modes when contents of residual active chlorine didn’t exceed recommended levels (0.8–1.2 mg/L). Basic ways to minimize carcinogenic risks caused by trihalomethanes are systemic control over their contents in drinking water during social and hygienic monitoring procedures; preliminary ammonization of water taken from surface water sources; prevention of unjustified hyper-chlorination; preliminary deep purification of initial water; disinfection with ultrasound radiation instead of preliminary chlorination; etc.
Engajamento coletivo na primavera secundarista
Authors: Alves Martins Jonathan , Aparecida de Queiroz Maria
Published: October 2020

Este artigo analisa uma práxis educativa vivenciada na ocupação da escola José Lins do Rego por estudantes, professores e movimentos sociais contrários à Medida de Reorganização da rede de ensino de São Paulo em 2015. Analisa a literatura, documentos oficiais e fotografias, por meio do método documentário, voltados para a problemática no ensino médio em face de uma gestão de educação autoritária. As análises sugerem uma concepção de escola como espaço educativo, no qual os sujeitos coletivos engajados no movimento de ocupação, horizontalmente, consubstanciam a práxis educativa como estratégia favorável à consciência para além do institucional. Ou seja, a identificação entre quem ocupava as escolas e se apropriava do espaço educativo suscitava novos significados ao ensino médio público em um importante momento histórico de formação da consciência de classe entre esses sujeitos que vislumbraram a transformação da realidade por meio de um agir coletivo.
O Pandemônio de 1918
Authors: Venâncio Junior André Luiz , Venancio Mignot Ana Chrystina
Published: October 2020

Publicado em 1924, O Pandemônio de 1918 traduziu o ponto de vista de do médico Moncorvo Filho, vinculado ao movimento higienista, a respeito da pandemia da gripe espanhola. Entendia que a maneira de superar as mazelas sociais e conduzir o país ao progresso, estaria relacionada ao combate às doenças como a tuberculose, o alcoolismo e a mortalidade infantil, o que o levou a mobilizar esforços para criar o Instituto de Proteção e Assistência à Infância (IPAI). O autor mostra como agiu em torno da manifestação da gripe espanhola, a partir de uma perspectiva intervencionista, compromissada em curar a doença e ensinar práticas de higiene aos indivíduos para que pudessem evitá-la. Problematizar como sua escrita relata a pandemia, além de interpretar como ele estava inserido num movimento comprometido em pensar uma medicina articulada a preceitos pedagógicos de higiene, é o horizonte deste texto.
Technophobia and Robot Agency in Asimov’s I, Robot
Authors: Baysal Kübra
Published: October 2020

Written by Russian author and scientist Isaac Asimov in 1950, I, Robot is a collection of nine stories interwoven together through the relationships between humans and machines in the future, around the 2040s. The narrator of the book, a journalist, recounts the stories while a robopsychologist, Dr Susan Calvin, reports him the “robotic” incidents that she has encountered in the company, U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men, since the beginning of the new technology age. Depicting the inner system of the company, Dr Susan Calvin provides information about the nature and the laws of the robotics, and how the laws have been violated or reversed at times and how the robots are discriminated by humans because of technophobia. Most of the robots in the stories acquire autonomy, consciousness and agency disturbing the well-set system of robotics which is designed to protect human beings in the first place. Hence, this study aims to analyse technophobia and the matter of embodying agency by robots in especially six stories in Asimov’s book with reference to the posthuman theory and the biography of the author. Finally, it will dissect the film I, Robot as an adaptation of the book from the perspective of posthumanism.