bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frontonasal encephalocele with subependymal heterotopias and cerebellar dysplasia: a rare case report with review of literature
Authors: Singh Kunwar Pal , Kaur Sukhdeep , Sidhu Bikramjit Singh
Published: August 2021

Background

Encephaloceles are herniation of brain parenchyma through the defect in the dura and the skull bones. This case report reveals a rare association of frontonasal encephalocele, subependymal nodular heterotopias and cerebellar dysplasia with review of literature.

Case presentation

Frontonasal encephalocele is a rare entity. We report an 18-months-old male child who presented to the department of pediatrics with chief complaint of congenital swelling in the region of forehead. Swelling was increasing in size as told by the parents of the child. The child was born full term with normal vaginal delivery. There was no history of any obstetrical complications. The swelling was soft, transilluminant and pulsatile in nature. He was referred to the department of radio diagnosis for imaging evaluation. His CT and MRI images revealed defect in the anterior cranial fossa with herniation of meninges and brain parenchyma through it. There was also evidence of subependymal nodular heterotopias in this patient along with hypoplasia of left cerebellar hemisphere and left middle cerebellar peduncle with left cerebellar dysplasia.

Conclusions

This case report describes the coexistence of frontonasal encephaloceles, subependymal nodular heterotopias and cerebellar dysplasia, which is a very rare association.
Persistence of the “Moving Things Are Alive” Heuristic into Adulthood: Evidence from EEG
Authors: Skelling-Desmeules Yannick , Brault Foisy Lorie-Marlène , Potvin Patrice , Lapierre Hugo G. , Ahr Emmanuel , Léger Pierre-Majorique , Masson Steve , Charland Patrick
Published: August 2021

This paper investigates the EEG signature related to a scientific task in biology involving the frequent "moving things are alive" heuristic. Results show that ERP signals differ between counterintuitive stimuli and intuitive ones at N2 and LPP locations, which are commonly involved in inhibitory control.
THE BEGUILING ALLURE OF RUINS
Authors: Pellapaisiotis Haris
Published: August 2021

This essay argues that the symbolic depiction of ruins through countless photographs and other forms of representation of the Nicosia Buffer Zone, rather than challenge the military division of the city, seems to sustain a territorial border mentality based on expectations of division and what a military zone should look like. It argues that the ruin is not simply a remnant of the past and therefore a signifier of what once was but is a physical space that can be occupied in the present as a catalytic site for experimentation in living and individuation.
Chlorpyrifos and other pesticide exposure and suspected developmental delay in children aged under 5 years: a case-control study in Phitsanulok, Thailand
Authors: Juntarawijit Yuwayong , Chaichanawirote Uraiwan , Rakmeesri Paphada , Chairattanasakda Punaphop , Pumyim Varintorn , Juntarawijit Chudchawal
Published: August 2021

Background: Developmental delay among children under 5 years of age is a serious global public health problem and much research has been carried out to find potential causes. Pesticides - especially organophosphates - are suspected to be one of the main causes of the problem.  This study aimed to investigate the association between pesticide use by the mother during pregnancy and preschool children development using a case-control study.

Methods: Data on prenatal and postnatal pesticide exposure of 442 children with suspected developmental delay, and 413 controls with normal development were included for analysis. The children were matched for gender, age, and residency. Data on pesticide exposure were collected via interview with the mother, and data on pregnancy outcomes abstracted from hospital records.  

Results: Chlorpyrifos exposure significantly increased the risk of developmental delay with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.71 (95% CI 1.03-13.36) for ever use of the pesticide, and an OR of 5.92 (95% CI 1.01-34.68) for postnatal exposure (p <0.05). Some other pesticides also had a positive association with developmental delay but none were statistically significant (p <0.05). Those pesticides were insecticide, fungicide, herbicide, and molluscicide. Individual pesticides with a positive association were glyphosate, paraquat, butachlor, methyl parathion (pholidon), savin, methomyl, endosulfan, carbosulfan, methamidophos, monochrotofos, mancozeb, and bordeaumixture.

Conclusions: This case-control study found that chlorpyrifos and some other pesticide exposure during pregnancy was positively associated with developmental delay in children aged under 5 years. Further research should be conducted to better understand this potential effect of pesticides on child neurodevelopment, and the public - especially those who plan to have families - should be informed.
Non-commercial pharmaceutical R&D: what do neglected diseases suggest about costs and efficiency?
Authors: Vieira Marcela , Kimmitt Ryan , Moon Suerie
Published: August 2021

Background: The past two decades have witnessed significant growth in non-commercial research and development (R&D) initiatives, particularly for neglected diseases, but there is limited understanding of the ways in which they compare with commercial R&D. This study analyses costs, timelines, and attrition rates of non-commercial R&D across multiple initiatives and how they compare to commercial R&D.

Methods: This is a mixed-method, observational, descriptive, and analytic study. We contacted 48 non-commercial R&D initiatives and received either quantitative and/or qualitative data from 13 organizations. We used the Portfolio to Impact (P2I) model’s estimates of average costs, timelines, and attrition rates for commercial R&D, while noting that P2I cost estimates are far lower than some previous findings in the literature.

Results: The quantitative data suggested that the costs and timelines per candidate per phase (from preclinical through Phase 3) of non-commercial R&D for new chemical entities are largely in line with commercial averages. The quantitative data was insufficient to compare attrition rates. The qualitative data identified more reasons why non-commercial R&D costs would be lower than commercial R&D, timelines would be longer, and attrition rates would be equivalent or higher, though the data does not allow for estimating the magnitude of these effects.

Conclusions: The quantitative data suggest that costs and timelines per candidate per phase were largely in line with (lower-end estimates of) commercial averages. We were unable to draw conclusions on overall efficiency, however, due to insufficient data on attrition rates. Given that non-commercial R&D is a nascent area of research with limited data available, this study contributes to the literature by generating hypotheses for further testing against a larger sample of quantitative data. It also offers a range of explanatory factors for further exploration regarding how non-commercial and commercial R&D may differ in costs and efficiency.
Development of a primary care research network focused on chronic disease: a feasibility study for both practices and research networks
Authors: O'Connor Raymond , Murphy Patrick J. , O'Callaghan Michael E. , Smith Susan M. , Glynn Liam , Collins Claire , O'Driscoll Rory , Murphy Andrew W.
Published: August 2021

Background: High quality data should be a key resource for research and planning of healthcare, but low quality general practice data has been documented internationally. This study assessed the feasibility of collecting reliable chronic disease data in Irish general practice, using a program of training and feedback to improve the quality of coding for chronic conditions in practice information systems.

Methods: Training in chronic disease coding and reporting was provided to a purposive sample of general practices in Ireland. From July to December 2020, practices reported the number of patients receiving free medical care, and the number of patients coded with each of eight chronic conditions: type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ischaemic heart disease (IHD), heart failure (HF), atrial fibrillation (ATF), transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and cerebrovascular accident/stroke (CVA). Calculated prevalences were compared with national and international estimates.

Results: We recruited and trained 16 practices with 65.5 full-time equivalent GPs and a study-eligible patient population of 36,327. There was a large degree of variation across practices for all conditions. For example, in July, reported prevalence of IHD ranged from 0.3% to 10.2% (a 34-fold difference), and reported prevalence of HF ranged from 0.2% to 4.0% (a 20-fold difference). No single practice had high or low prevalences across all conditions. Changes over time across all practices were minimal, averaging between 0.1% and 0.3% for all conditions. By December, a large degree of variation across practices remained. Across all conditions, average prevalences were higher than previously published estimates.

Conclusions: Although hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was feasible to implement this programme of training and feedback to report on chronic disease data recorded in general practice. Coding quality in Irish general practice is highly varied, and improvement would require a greater degree of intervention, including audit.
“CLIQUES”: ACADEMIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS
Authors: Rodrigues de Vasconcelos Geraldo Magela , Liandro Ester Sarah , Maia Velcimiro Inácio , Melo Silva Gustavo
Published: August 2021

This work has investigated the academic relationships of five classes, 185 students, from an Undergraduate Business Administration course. The Social Network Analysis (SNA) research technique has been used. The results show that homophilia is predominant in the formation of groups. Only in one class does performance have a greater influence. The “cliques” were more clearly defined in only one class. The analysis of the results also indicates that students with social brokerage roles perform better than their peers.
Percepções de cooperados e não cooperados em relação à dimensão social da sustentabilidade de uma cooperativa leiteira da agricultura familiar
Authors: Tiozo Evandro , Bertolini Geysler Rogis Flor
Published: August 2021

O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar se ser cooperado ou não em uma cooperativa leiteira influencia na dimensão social da sustentabilidade da agricultura familiar. As análises foram realizadas pela Modelagem de Equações Estruturais, com estimação dos “Mínimos Quadrados Parciais”, utilizando o software SmartPLS® 3.0, com a validação dos constructos e o teste de hipóteses. Verificou-se que a cooperativa influencia positivamente na dimensão social da sustentabilidade dos cooperados, pois as percepções dos cooperados foram positivas e significativas estatisticamente quando comparadas com as opiniões dos não cooperados, demonstrando que ser cooperado impacta positivamente nesta relação entre cooperativa e agricultura familiar.
Expansion or Contraction of the Prophetic Experience? An Analysis of the Prophetic Dream Theory of ʿAbd al-Karīm Surūsh
Authors: Tığlı Asiye
Published: August 2021

This paper analyzes the theory that ʿAbd al-Karīm Surūsh proposes through an article series called The Prophet Muhammad: The Messenger of Prophetic Dreams, in light of previous approaches about revelation (waḥy) with regard to dreams and imagination. For this purpose, the first chapter of this paper centers on the distinction between the word “dream” (ruʾyā), as in Surūsh’s theory, and traditional approaches to revelation to determine differences in terms of content. The second chapter associates the explanation of revelation with dreams in order to compare alternative “imagination” (خيال، متخيلة) based approaches in Islamic philosophy and Sufism, in turn clarifying how Surūsh distinguishes them and resolves the relevant problematics.
UPDATES
Authors: Allaway Tom
Published: August 2021

Secukinumab for treating non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis
Fungal skin infections
Authors: Perry Margaret
Published: August 2021

Fungal infections of the skin continue to place a burden on healthcare and are a significant issue globally in terms of their cost and impact on resources. Some are more difficult to treat than others and there is a wide variation in duration of treatment, depending on the site and severity. Many fungal infections share similarities in appearance with other skin conditions, which can sometimes make diagnosis difficult. This article details some of the most common conditions and aims to give nurses and non-medical prescribers an overview of evidence-based treatment and management as well as to increase confidence when managing some of these troublesome diseases.
Targets of Hate, Shame or Exploitation?: The (Violent) Conundrum of Sex Work in Democratic South Africa
Authors: Richter Marlise , Wasserman Zia , Lakhani Ishtar
Published: August 2021

Whorephobia is the fear or hatred of sex workers. Whorephobia manifests in various ways in official legislation, popular consciousness, the medical literature, law enforcement and public responses to sex work. All aspects of sex work are fully criminalised following its origins in archaic colonial law. International and local literature has documented how the criminal law on adult, consensual sex work renders sex workers vulnerable to murder, rape, exploitation and other forms of violence, while increasing their risk of HIV and other forms of ill health. This vulnerability impacts directly on public health, while making society less safe. Deeply worryingly, recent recommendations from the South African Law Reform Commission (2017) urged the Department of Justice to maintain this status quo.

This article explores whorephobia in the South African context through two case studies of violence in Cape Town in 2013: the high-profile criminal case of the artist Zwelethu Mthethwa who kicked sex worker Nokuphila Kumalo to death, and Tim Osrin's assault of domestic worker Cynthia Joni. The analysis provides a critique of the power structures created by the criminal law and draws on the theoretical framework of stigma-mitigating strategies within sex work developed by Weitzer. We conclude by arguing that the criminal law supports the radical dehumanisation of sex workers which contributes to manifestations of extreme hatred in the form of hate crimes and torture.
The Dis-Ease of Body-Politics: “Coronavirus” as a Racial Pandemic in Contemporary India
Authors: Dey Sayan
Published: August 2021

The biomedical crisis of COVID-19 in India has amplified several other crises, namely; social, cultural, communal, religious, geographical, economic, political, racial and gender. It is important to note that these crises are not new - they were already socio-culturally embedded and functional in the pre-COVID-19 era. With the inception of COVID-19, these crises have been further aggravated through the re-configuration and re-systematisation of various forms of social, cultural, political, economic, racial, geographical, religious and economic violence. With respect to these arguments, this commentary focuses on how the outbreak of COVID-19 has led to an alarming rise in racial hatred against the residents of Northeast India in the contemporary era. Through socio-historically analysing the problematic rise of racial hatred, the commentary also identifies the various ways through which the pandemic of COVID-19 is not only functioning as a disease, but also as a “disease” of body-politics and racism.
CAM18sl brightness prediction for unrelated saturated stimuli including age effects
Authors: Preciado Oscar U. , Martin Andres , Manzano Eduardo , Smet Kevin A. G. , Hanselaer Peter
Published: August 2021

Modelling the influence of age on the perception of brightness of visual stimuli is an important topic for indoor and outdoor lighting. As people get older, the transmittance of the ocular media becomes lower, especially in the blue wavelength region. This paper reports on an experimental study aiming to evaluate how the brightness perception of red and blue stimuli is affected by the age of the observer. A matching experiment has been set up in which both young (25 years old on average) and older (70 years old on average) adult observers had to match the brightness of a blue stimulus with the brightness of a red stimulus, both surrounded by a dark background (unrelated stimuli). A significant difference in brightness perception between the two groups of observers was found. In particular, older people report a decrease in brightness perception for the blue stimuli compared to younger people. The results show that the brightness correlate of the colour appearance model CAM18sl (applied with zero luminance background) adequately predicts the matching results of young observers, but failed to predict the results obtained by the older observers. As CAM18sl is built on cone fundamentals which include the transmittance of the ocular media and consider the age of the observer as an input parameter, the authors developed the idea to substitute the cone fundamentals for a young observer by the cone fundamentals for a 70 years old observer. This updated CAM18sl performed very well for the older observer as well, on condition that the transmittance of the ocular media is isolated and kept out of the normalization of the cone fundamentals.
High precision fabrication of aluminum optics by optimizing an Ar+ ion beam figuring strategy for polishing the contamination layer
Authors: Du Chunyang , Dai Yifan , Guan Chaoliang , Hu Hao
Published: August 2021

Benefiting from high specific stiffness and high reflectance, aluminum optics with a complex surface profile are widely used in aerospace optical systems which have strict requirements for volume of the systems. Contact figuring polishing process provides highly deterministic technology for the fabrication of high precision aluminum optics. However, due to the high chemical activity of aluminum, the inevitable contamination layer will generate on the surface and bring difficulties for the subsequent processes, which greatly limit the fabrication precision. Ion beam figuring (IBF) is an effectively technology that can remove the contamination layer and improve surface quality. But, the surface profile may deteriorate during IBF. In this study, through experimental method, the nonuniformity of the contamination layer is found to be the inducer for deterioration and deviation of surface profile during IBF. The mapping between the characteristics of contamination layer and dwell time of contact polishing is studied. The thickness of the contamination layer will firstly increase with dwell time and stabilize to 120 nm when the dwell time exceeds a specific value. The variation of the IBF removal function with removal depth is also revealed through experimental and theoretical methods. Due to the dynamic variation of the composition in the contamination layer during IBF, the removal function increases with the removal depth and stabilizes when the depth exceeds 60 nm (the contamination layer is fully removed). Consequently, we propose two processing strategies to improve the aluminum optics fabrication process. Comparative experiments are performed on two off-axis aspherical surfaces. The results indicate that the surface profile can be stably maintained and improved during IBF processing based on the proposed strategies. Our research will significantly improve the fabrication precision of aluminum optics and promote the application of aluminum optics to the visible and even ultraviolet band.
Mode-evolution-based ultra-broadband polarization beam splitter using adiabatically tapered extreme skin-depth waveguide
Authors: Mia Md Borhan , Ahmed Syed Z. , Jaidye Nafiz , Ahmed Ishtiaque , Kim Sangsik
Published: August 2021

We present an ultra-broadband silicon photonic polarization beam splitter (PBS) using adiabatically tapered extreme skin-depth (eskid) waveguides. Highly anisotropic metamaterial claddings of the eskid waveguides suppress the crosstalk of transverse-electric (TE) mode, while the large birefringence of the eskid waveguide efficiently cross-couples the transverse-magnetic (TM) mode. Two eskid waveguides are adiabatically tapered to smoothly translate TM mode to the coupled port via mode evolution while keeping the TE mode in the through port. The tapered cross-section of the eskid PBS was designed numerically, achieving a large bandwidth at 1400–1650 nm with extinction ratios

>

20

d
B

. We experimentally demonstrated the tapered-eskid PBS and confirmed its broad bandwidth at 1490–1640 nm, limited by laser bandwidth. With its mode evolution, the tapered-eskid PBS is tolerant to fabrication imperfections and should be crucial for controlling polarizations in photonic circuits.
Patterns of prescription dispensation and over-the-counter medication sales in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Karlsson Pär , Nakitanda Aya Olivia , Löfling Lukas , Cesta Carolyn E.
Published: August 2021

Introduction

On February 26th 2020, a high alert was issued in Sweden in response to the diagnosis of the first few coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the country. Subsequently, a decreased supply of essential goods, including medical products, was anticipated. We aimed to explore the weekly patterns of prescription dispensing and over-the-counter (OTC) medication sales in Sweden in 2020 compared with previous years, to assess the influence of the government restrictions on medication sales, and to assess whether there is evidence of medication stockpiling in the population.

Methods

Aggregated data on the weekly volume of defined daily doses (DDDs) of prescription medication dispensed and OTC sales from 2015 to 2020 were examined. From 2015–2019 data, the predicted weekly volume of DDDs for 2020 was estimated and compared to the observed volume for each ATC anatomical main group and therapeutic subgroup.

Results

From mid-February to mid-March 2020, there were increases in the weekly volumes of dispensed medication, peaking in the second week of March with a 46% increase in the observed versus predicted number of DDDs dispensed (16,440 vs 11,260 DDDs per 1000 inhabitants). A similar pattern was found in all age groups, in both sexes, and across metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions. In the same week in March, there was a 96% increase in the volume of OTC sold (2,504 vs 1,277 DDDs per 1000 inhabitants), specifically in ATC therapeutic subgroups including vitamins, antipyretics, painkillers, and nasal, throat, cough and cold preparations.

Conclusion

Beginning in mid-February 2020, there were significant changes in the volume of prescription medication dispensed and OTC drugs sold. The weekly volume of DDDs quickly decreased following recommendations from public authorities. Overall, our findings suggest stockpiling behavior over a surge in new users of medication.
Identifying Bleeding Etiologies by Endoscopy Affected Outcomes in 10,342 Cases With Hematochezia: CODE BLUE-J Study
Authors: Nagata Naoyoshi , Kobayashi Katsumasa , Yamauchi Atsushi , Yamada Atsuo , Omori Jun , Ikeya Takashi , Aoyama Taiki , Tominaga Naoyuki , Sato Yoshinori , Kishino Takaaki , Ishii Naoki , Sawada Tsunaki , Murata Masaki , Takao Akinari , Mizukami Kazuhiro , Kinjo Ken , Fujimori Shunji , Uotani Takahiro , Fujita Minoru , Sato Hiroki , Suzuki Sho , Narasaka Toshiaki , Hayasaka Junnosuke , Funabiki Tomohiro , Kinjo Yuzuru , Mizuki Akira , Kiyotoki Shu , Mikami Tatsuya , Gushima Ryosuke , Fujii Hiroyuki , Fuyuno Yuta , Gunji Naohiko , Toya Yosuke , Narimatsu Kazuyuki , Manabe Noriaki , Nagaike Koji , Kinjo Tetsu , Sumida Yorinobu , Funakoshi Sadahiro , Kawagishi Kana , Matsuhashi Tamotsu , Komaki Yuga , Miki Kuniko , Watanabe Kazuhiro , Fukuzawa Masakatsu , Itoi Takao , Uemura Naomi , Kawai Takashi , Kaise Mitsuru
Published: August 2021

INTRODUCTION:

The bleeding source of hematochezia is unknown without performing colonoscopy. We sought to identify whether colonoscopy is a risk-stratifying tool to identify etiology and predict outcomes and whether presenting symptoms can differentiate the etiologies in patients with hematochezia.

METHODS:

This multicenter retrospective cohort study conducted at 49 hospitals across Japan analyzed 10,342 patients admitted for outpatient-onset acute hematochezia.

RESULTS:

Patients were mostly elderly population, and 29.5% had hemodynamic instability. Computed tomography was performed in 69.1% and colonoscopy in 87.7%. Diagnostic yield of colonoscopy reached 94.9%, most frequently diverticular bleeding. Thirty-day rebleeding rates were significantly higher with diverticulosis and small bowel bleeding than with other etiologies. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher with angioectasia, malignancy, rectal ulcer, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Colonoscopic treatment rates were significantly higher with diverticulosis, radiation colitis, angioectasia, rectal ulcer, and postendoscopy bleeding. More interventional radiology procedures were needed for diverticulosis and small bowel bleeding. Etiologies with favorable outcomes and low procedure rates were ischemic colitis and infectious colitis. Higher rates of painless hematochezia at presentation were significantly associated with multiple diseases, such as rectal ulcer, hemorrhoids, angioectasia, radiation colitis, and diverticulosis. The same was true in cases of hematochezia with diarrhea, fever, and hemodynamic instability.

DISCUSSION:

This nationwide data set of acute hematochezia highlights the importance of colonoscopy in accurately detecting bleeding etiologies that stratify patients at high or low risk of adverse outcomes and those who will likely require more procedures. Predicting different bleeding etiologies based on initial presentation would be challenging.
Português como língua de herança em um contexto de línguas românicas
Authors: Azevedo Gomes Juliana
Published: August 2021

O presente artigo é resultado de um estudo realizado no âmbito da didática da língua de herança (VALDÉS, 2005; KONDO-BROWN, 2005). O objetivo deste trabalho é identificar as estratégias comunicativas dos falantes de herança para o uso do português como língua de herança (doravante PLH) em um contexto de línguas românicas: o castelhano e o catalão. Para isso, foram selecionadas nove crianças em idade de alfabetização e seus familiares brasileiros, para analisar seus discursos e estratégias utilizadas para a comunicação na língua portuguesa. Após a análise, percebeu-se um padrão, tanto nas estratégias empregadas, como nas dificuldades encontradas pelas crianças para comunicar-se na sua língua de herança. A partir dos resultados, apresentam-se algumas diretrizes didáticas para melhor trabalhar o desenvolvimento da competência comunicativa em português, considerando o contexto minimamente trilíngue dos falantes de herança.
K teorii aktivního vzdělávacího obsahu v transdidaktickém pojetí
Authors: Slavík Jan , Janík Tomáš , Kohout Jiří , Češková Tereza , Mentlík Pavel , Najvar Petr
Published: August 2021

This theoretical study builds on Fisherman‘s view of active content as an agent of cognitive change and on Kvasz’s theorem that cognitive changes on the level of historical cultural epistemology and cognitive changes on the level of student’s personal epistemology can be explain through the same typology. The paper looks for the clarification of this agreement through concepts like “intentionality”, “content transformation” and the “instrumentalization of experience”. The educational potential of active content between the cultural and the personal level is explained with reference to the concept of “meme”, which represents the creation of active content in cultural history as well as the distribution of active content within society and its influence upon an individual. The tools for meme replication in educational environment are learning tasks; they generate cognitive changes in students insomuch as they have sound semantic and logical structure of cognitive schemata. Upon this explanatory basis authors interpret Kvasz’s typology of cognitive changes that stems from the analysis of scientific revolutions in the cultural history.
What Can We Learn About Therapeutic Change From Case History Data? The Research Jury Method with the Couple Case of "Carl" and "Sandra"
Authors: Bohart Arthur C. , Shenefiel Lindsey , Alejandro Marco
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this study was to explore the usefulness of using case history data to assess change in psychotherapy. This was a follow up to previous investigations utilizing a "research jury method" to evaluate psychotherapy outcome. Three judges studied the critical first five sessions of a ten session video of emotionally focused therapy with a couple, Carl and Sandra. They took intensive notes and then functioned as a "jury"” to evaluate the evidence. They concluded that the evidence from within the case history is strong that the couple changed for the better. The evidence also supported the conclusion that therapy contributed to the change, although, by their judgment, at the "preponderance of evidence" level. Finally, the evidence was used to evaluate how therapy contributed to change. It was concluded that the most likely factors contributed by the therapist were her helping the couple see that each other’s underlying intentions were positive, and by fostering their hope.  Evidence also supported the contributions the clients themselves made through their taking responsibility for themselves, through their exploring their past experiences, and through their creativity. Limitations are discussed and conclusions for the evaluation of psychotherapy are drawn.
Modeling the spatiotemporal intracellular calcium dynamics in nerve cell with strong memory effects
Authors: Joshi Hardik , Jha Brajesh Kumar
Published: August 2021

Calcium signaling in nerve cells is a crucial activity for the human brain to execute a diversity of its functions. An alteration in the signaling process leads to cell death. To date, several attempts registered to study the calcium distribution in nerve cells like neurons, astrocytes, etc. in the form of the integer-order model. In this paper, a fractional-order mathematical model to study the spatiotemporal profile of calcium in nerve cells is assembled and analyzed. The proposed model is solved by the finite element method for space derivative and finite difference method for time derivative. The classical case of the calcium dynamics model is recovered by setting the fractional parameter and that validates the model for classical sense. The numerical computations have systematically presented the impact of a fractional parameter on nerve cells. It is observed that calbindin-D28k provides a significant effect on the spatiotemporal variation of calcium profile due to the amalgamation of the memory of nerve cells. The presence of excess amounts of calbindin-D28k controls the intracellular calcium level and prevents the nerve cell from toxicity.
Smart NIR-light and pH responsive doxorubicin-loaded GNRs@SBA-15-SH nanocomposite for chemo-photothermal therapy of cancer
Authors: Deinavizadeh Maryam , Kiasat Alireza , Hooshmand Nasrin , Shafiei Mohammad , Sabaeian Mohammad , Mirzajani Roya , Zahraei Seyed Mohammadsaleh , Labouta Hagar I. , El-Sayed Mostafa A.
Published: August 2021

We designed novel biocompatible nanocomposite composed of gold nanorods coated with rod-like mesoporous silica SBA-15-SH particles, (GNRs@SBA-15-SH) as a new synergistic therapeutic device to deliver heat and drug to cancer cells for tumor eradication. For this purpose, doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded into GNRs@SBA-15-SH nanocomposites and studied their photothermal therapy, chemotherapy and the combined effect on the ablation of A549 cells in vitro using human lung cancer cells, A549. The results demonstrate the high photothermal efficacy of gold nanorods loaded into the nanocomposite, the thermo-responsive properties of GNRs@SBA-15-SH, the high loading capacity of DOX into the GNRs@SBA-15-SH and its biocompatibility. Synergistic chemo-photothermal of the GNRs@SBA-15-SH/DOX nanocomposite in the eradication of cancer cells under laser irradiation (808 nm), demonstrates the high potential of therapeutic efficacy of this combined therapy over monotherapies.
Leitmerkmale und Vorgehen einer Implementierung von Exoskeletten
Authors: Hoffmann Niclas , Ralfs Lennart , Weidner Robert
Published: August 2021

Physische Unterstützungssysteme wie Exoskelette gewinnen zunehmend an Bedeutung für Industriearbeitsplätze. Dieser Beitrag stellt diesbezüglich eine Vorgehensweise für AnwenderInnen vor, der eine Verwendung von Leitmerkmalen für Unterstützungssituationen zur Ermittlung der Eignung von Exoskeletten nutzt. Beschrieben wird eine nutzerzentrierte Herangehensweise für den Implementierungsprozess von Exoskeletten, welche eine kritische Reflexion über die Eignung eines Exoskeletts auf Basis von Leitmerkmalen fördern soll.
Surface characterization of paper products via a stylus-type contact method
Authors: Park Na Young , Ko Young Chan , Kim Hyoung Jin , Moon Byoung Geun
Published: August 2021

Surface properties include both surface roughness and friction. With a stylus-type contact method, it is necessary to obtain either a surface roughness profile or a friction profile that is affected by stylus shape and size, its contact force on the sample, the scan speed, and the data acquisition rate. As a new surface parameter, the mean absolute deviation (MAD) from an average property has been introduced. It represents the deviation from either the roughness average (Ra) and the average coefficient of friction (COF), respectively. While Ra or average COF depends on the instrument and its operating conditions, the MAD should not depend on them because it represents the variations within the sample.
Effects of exogenous melatonin supplementations on some elemental contents in Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold. subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe) seedling tissues
Authors: Yer Çelik Esra Nurten
Published: August 2021

A multi-directional relationship may be conceivable between elements and melatonin in sessile organisms. Melatonin is an important hormone that helps regulate metabolism. This study investigated how different doses (0 μM/control, 250 μM, 500 μM, 1000 μM, and 1500 μM) of exogenous melatonin supplementations (EMS) affected the elemental contents in Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold. ssp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe) seedling tissues (root, stem, and needle). Two different application forms (root-dipping and needle-spraying) were selected in the study. In the samples of seedling tissues, sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg)/ppm; chrome (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P), selenium (Se), silicium (Si), silver (Ag), sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), and molybdenum (Mo)/ppb were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Of the 18 elements examined, there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between all seedling tissues and different doses of EMS. The results show that EMS may have the regulatory effect on seedling tissue element metabolism.
Anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of hydrosol extracted from Zanthoxylum schinifolium branch
Authors: Ha Si Young , Jung Ji Young , Lee Dong Hwan , Yang Jae-Kyung
Published: August 2021

Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc. (syn. Fagara schinifolia Engler) was studied for its potential anti-inflammatory properties. The hydrosol extract prepared from the Z. schinifolium branch was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Here, five main chemical components were identified in the hydrosol of the branches of this shrub. The main chemical compounds in the branch inhibited both an Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-antigen complex and a dinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA)-induced β-hexosaminidase release in a dose-dependent manner in RBL-2H3 mast cells, and at the tested concentrations did not show cytotoxicity to RBL-2H3 cells. Moreover, hydrosol obtained from the branch substantially inhibited a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced overproduction of intracellular active oxygen (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). Consistently, the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor-attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins of SNAP23, syntaxin4, VAMP7, and VAMP8 were remarkably decreased through hydrosol treatment. Hydrosol suppressed the activation of SNARE proteins in DNP-BSA-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells and inhibited ROS and NO in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Camphor and estragole are the main chemical components of hydrosol and downregulate the LPS-induced phosphorylation of the SNARE proteins. The hydrosol obtained from the branch of Z. schinifolium has therapeutic benefits for allergic inflammatory diseases.
Ultrasonic welding of folding boxboards
Authors: Monot Claire , Viguié Jérémie , Charlier Quentin , Bras Julien , Guérin David , Harthong Barthélémy , Imbault Didier , Peyroux Robert , Rueff Martine , Leroy Laurence , Caron Marie
Published: August 2021

Today’s environmental concerns are pressuring industries to substitute paper-based materials in place of plastics in many sectors including packaging. However, assembling papers and paperboards using environmentally friendly solutions remains a technological challenge. In this context, ultrasonic (US) welding is an alternative to adhesives. In this work, the potential of US welding to assemble folding boxboards was investigated. Folding boxboards are commonly coated to enhance printability. This coating is generally composed of mineral pigments (85 to 90%) and polymer binders (10 to 12%). This study evaluated whether the presence of the coating layer allows the assembly of paperboards by US welding. Results indicated that welding coated folding boxboards is possible provided that coating weight and binder content are high enough. The mechanical performances of the welded boards met the requirements of most packaging applications. Adhesion in the welded joint resulted from a combination of thermoplastic (melting and flowing of the binder) and thermoset (degradation reactions) effects. However, it was not possible to assemble coated folding boxboards without degrading the welding zone. While the materials and process need to be optimized, this work represents a big step forward toward the adhesive-free assembling of paper-based materials.
Fabrication of super-hydrophobic filter paper via mixed wax phase separation for efficient oil/water separation
Authors: Wang Yating , Chen Xiaochun , Liang Yaqi , Yu Chenghua
Published: August 2021

Despite previous eﬀorts, the fabrication of superhydrophobic substrate via an environment friendly and easy approach remains a great challenge. In this study, a low cost, simple, and green procedure was developed to prepare a superhydrophobic paper surface that is acceptable for the papermaking industry. First, a wax mixture (beeswax & carnauba wax) was emulsified and coated on the filter paper surface. Then, the coated paper was annealed at different temperatures. The further heat-treatment-rendered wax-coated paper hydrophobic or superhydrophobic because submicrometer or micrometer wax structures were present on the paper surface. The water contact angle of the annealed filter paper sample reached 151.5° at 60 °C, and the sliding angle was under 10°. Further, the relationship between surface composition and the hydrophobic properties of the coated paper samples was discussed. The obtained paper samples showed great potential in water/oil separation, as they had an efficiency over 99%. This work proposed a new simple and mild approach to fabricate superhydrophobic filter papers and explored the hydrophobicity and water/oil separation properties.
Security of search and verification protocol in multidimensional blockchain
Authors: Shilov Ilya , Zakoldaev Danil
Published: August 2021

The issue of secure data exchange and performing external transactions between robust distributed ledgers has recently been among the most significant in the sphere of designing and implementing decentralized technologies. Several approaches have been proposed to speed up the process of verifying transactions on adjacent blockchains. The problem of search has not been under research yet. The paper contains security evaluation of data exchange between independent robust distributed ledgers inside multidimensional blockchain. Main principles, basic steps of the protocol and major requirements for it are observed: centralized approach, subset principle and robust SVP. An equivalence of centralized approach and ideal search and verification functionality is proven. The probability of successful verification in case of using fully connected network graph or equivalent approach with fully connected graph between parent and child blockchain is shown. The insecurity of approach with one-to-one links between child and parent ledgers or with a subset principle is proven. A robust search and verification protocol for blocks and transactions based on the features of robust distributed ledgers is presented. The probability of attack on this protocol is mostly defined by the probability of attack on verification and not on search. An approach to protection against an attacker with 50% of nodes in the network is given. It is based on combination of various search and verification techniques.
Extracting Semantic Information from Graphic Schemes
Authors: Mironov Valeriy , Gusarenko Artem , Tuguzbaev Gayz
Published: August 2021

The problem of extracting semantic information from an electronic document specified in the vector graphics format and containing a graphic model (diagram) built using a graphic editor is considered. The problem is to program retrieving certain structural properties and parametric circuit and entering them into a database for later use. Based on the analysis of the capabilities of graphic editors, a conclusion has made about the relevance of this task for universal editors that are not tied to specific graphic notations and use open graphic document formats, which allows program processing. The proposed approach considers graphic documents at three levels of abstraction: conceptual (semantic properties of a schema), logical (presentation of semantic properties at the internal level of the document) and physical (internal organization of a graphic document). The solution to the problem is based on the construction of a conceptual-logical mapping, i.e., mapping a conceptual model of a circuit to a logical model of a graphic document, according to its physical model. Within the framework of the approach, an algorithm for constructing the indicated mapping is developed, presented in the form of an object-oriented pseudocode. The study of internal markup in open graphic formats made it possible to build models for identifying circuit elements and their connections to each other, which is necessary for a specific application of the algorithm. Expressions for addressing schema elements and accessing their properties are obtained. The proposed approach is implemented on the base of a situation-oriented paradigm, within which the extraction process is driven by a hierarchical situational model. The processed data is specified in the situational model in the form of virtual documents displayed on heterogeneous external data sources. For the problem being solved, we consider the mapping to two variants of vector graphics formats: to a "flat" markup file and to a set of such files in an electronic archive. The practical use of the results is illustrated by the example of extracting semantic information from graphical models developed at various stages of database design.
Roadbed Sedimentation on Folded Bases with Weak Soils
Authors: Shapoval V. H , Ivanova H. P , Tereshchuk R. M , Nesterova O. V.
Published: August 2021

Purpose. The main purpose of the work is to construct accurate analytical dependences of the sedimentation of the roadbed base on its coordinates and the trapezoidal external load applied to the upper limit of the base. This will allow the foundation settlement profile to be calculated within and outside the embankment using the layer-by-layer stacking method. Methodology. Theoretical studies of geomechanical processes using analytical and numerical mathematical methods were applied to achieve the purpose, as well as analysis and generalization of the results of theoretical research. Findings. Analytical dependences of vertical and horizontal normal deformations on the half-plane coordinates to the upper limit of which the trapezoidal load is applied were obtained within the framework of the base model in the form of a linear elastic isotropic medium and the calculated scheme of planar deformation. On this basis, an algorithm for constructing a profile of a roadbed sedimentation made of soil materials has been developed. Originality. Analytical dependences of vertical normal deformations in the roadbed base with a trapezoidal profile on its coordinates are obtained. Practical value. The research materials presented in this work make it possible to construct the design profile of the roadbed of soil materials, taking into account the strong compressibility of the soil. In addition, the results obtained can be used to determine the lower limit of the compressible strata of the bases, to the upper limit of which a distributed load of either a triangular or a trapezoidal form is applied.
Ways to Increase the Efficiency of Thermopressiometry
Authors: Ulyanov V. Y
Published: August 2021

Purpose. The purpose of the work is to identify the ways to increase the efficiency of engineering research, based on the significant amount of exploration work required in the creation of modern man-made objects, taking into account the shortcomings of existing instruments and equipment used to measure soil stress, and in relation to the need to improve the design of thermopressiometers, which are aimed to facilitate the study of frozen soils. Methodology. The ways to improve the blade thermopressiometer for the study of frozen soils with different aggregates were selected by the comparative-analytical method and the method of analogy. Thawing depth, absolute soil sediment, deformation modulus etc. were determined by thermal-technical calculations. Findings. The application issues of concern of the existing thermopressiometers (limited research of soils of a certain type, complexity and insufficient accuracy of readings) identified can be overcome by the proposed improved design of a blade thermopressiometer for testing frozen sandy-clay soils. It is based on the improved heating circuit, the applicationd of quality materials and changing the form of the blades and body. The device is intented for use on permafrost and natural frozen soils of the world, including Ukraine. Originality. For the first time we offered a model of an advanced thermopressiometer with an improved body shape made of high-quality corrosion-resistant materials, including non-metallic ones. It has the reduced number of blades to one retractable sector blade-stamp (square or round) and one heating blade-stamp. A special probe design with mechanical/hydraulical sensor drive with a thermocouple (or with two fork probes to improve the measurements) was proposed. It was also recommended to introduce an electric conductive system designed for thawed soils, with a rod for measuring the retractable blade-stamp. The possibility of using a thermopressiometer during the study of seasonally frozen soils is established. Practical value. Improving the device model should facilitate its application in engineering and geological research for various types of construction, including transport, hydraulic engineering, which use the methods of deep freezing of weak and unstable soils.