bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytotoxic effects of individual and binary combinations of zearalenone and ochratoxin a on liver
Authors: Marin D.E. , Pistol G. C. , Taranu I.
Published: November 2020

Co-contamination with mycotoxin represents a serious concern for human and animal health. In this in vitro study, we investigated the combined effects of ZEA and OTA, mycotoxins which frequently contaminate cereals, in binary mixtures on the viability of human liver cancer cell line (HepG2). Cell viability was assessed after 24 h using a neutral red assay. An antagonistic effect was observed for binary toxins combinations affecting 25% of cell viability (CI=4.18), which turn into a synergistic effect as followed: slight at IL50 (CI=1.51), moderate at IL75 (CI=0.554) and strong at IL90 (CI=0.203). In conclusion, our results show an important additive and even synergistic cytotoxic effect of two commonly occurred mycotoxins: zearalenone and ochratoxin when they are present simultaneously in food or feed. The co-exposure to mycotoxins lead to a higher toxicity than the exposure to single toxin. Our study provides important data for mycotoxins risk assessment. In this context, a re-evaluation of the guidance levels for mycotoxins will be required in the future, in order to reduce the health risk associated with the possible consumption of mycotoxin co-contaminated food or feed.
Conservative algebras and superalgebras: a survey
Authors: Popov Yury
Published: November 2020

We give a survey of results obtained on the class of conservative algebras and superalgebras, as well as on their important subvarieties, such as terminal algebras.
Frequency Diagnostics of Insulating System of Power Transformers
Authors: Gutten Miroslav , Korenciak Daniel , Brncal Peter , Jarina Roman
Published: November 2020

The paper presents experimental diagnostics of the oil-paper insulating system of power transformers using progressive frequency method. The first part of the paper deals with the basic information about diagnostics of power oil transformers. The second part of the paper deals with the use of frequency domain spectroscopy (FDS) for power oil transformers. This method is used in the analysis of insulating condition of power transformer with the system of oil-paper. It was found that the results of these tests are highly influenced by the operating temperature during the experimental measurement. Moisture and conductivity between the insulating transformer paper and oil in an insulating system are highly dependent on the temperature. In the other part, the paper presents experimental results of the diagnostic measurement for a real traction oil transformer at different operating temperatures and states (with oil and without). Finally, the paper presents comparative measurement among several autotransformers with the same power. In experimental measurements, the correlation between the measured values and the operational aspects of the individual oil autotransformers are shown.
Experimental Evaluation of the Shadowing of a Planar Antenna Caused by a Quadcopter Frame
Authors: Heydarov Ibrahim , Brodnevs Deniss
Published: November 2020

The use of mobile data transfer can significantly increase the range of the remote-controlled operation of multirotor aerial vehicles. The planar antennas of ready-to-use 3G/LTE cellular communication dongles provide a low-cost and lightweight communication solution. In this paper, antenna shadowing caused by a quadcopter frame is experimentally investigated. The communication module is a 3G/LTE “Huawei 3372h” dongle with two planar built-in antennas and a receiver diversity function. The quadcopter frame is a widely used “F450” with Nylon arms and a PCB centre. It has been found that in order to minimize the antenna shadowing effect, planar antennas should be installed at the bottom of the frame, in parallel with the frame, with an air gap not less than the distance to the outer boundary of the reactive Near Field (NF).
Meander Conductor Shape Influence on the Electrodynamic Parameters of the Meander Structures
Authors: Belova-Plonienė Diana , Katkevičius Andrius
Published: November 2020

Meander structures allow reducing the size of the microwave devices while keeping the same operational characteristics. The shape of meander makes a considerable impact on the operation of microwave devices. Therefore, the structure of meander is widely investigated nowadays. The review of different shapes of a meander conductor is presented in this article. Two models with different shape of connecting conductors are designed and discussed in detail. The influence of variation of the length and width of connecting conductors on the electrical parameters of the meander is revealed using the traditional model of meander. Later, the comparison of the traditional model and the model with rectangle-shape peripheral parts of a meander conductor is presented. The increase in the width of connecting conductors from 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm has narrowed the bandwidth by 346 MHz until 2.388 GHz. The increase in the length of connecting conductors to 2.3 mm has allowed moving the stop-band to higher frequencies. The usage of the rectangle-shape connecting conductors slightly reduces the pass-band but allows achieving more stable input impedance.
Energy Yield Generated by a Small Building Integrated Photovoltaic Installation
Authors: Klugmann-Radziemska Ewa , Rudnicka Małgorzata
Published: November 2020

In the recent years photovoltaic (PV) industry has experienced a major growth, caused by the ever present annual decrease in module production prices and the expanding awareness of the general public in terms of renewable energy. There are numerous ways to implement PV modules as an additional energy source for a building, be it mounted on the rooftop, or building integrated (BIPV). An analysis of BIPV consisting of 8 modules with the power of 250 Wp each was carried out for the building of the Chemistry Faculty of Gdansk University of Technology (GUT). It included monthly irradiance and energy generation values and compared them to data obtained by the means of PV-GIS system, after inserting site specific coordinates. Additional research on the same type of a single module with the power of 270 Wp was conducted to provide more insight in this matter. A comprehensible analysis allows for defining a final conclusion for the decrease in energy yield for GUT BIPV installation. Data outputs are lower than expected based on PV-GIS values, as for the most time the facade mounted PV system experiences partial soft shading from the nearby park. Furthermore, it is not located directly facing south, but rather south-east which does not prompt ideal working conditions.
Metal Removal from Complex Copper Containing Effluents by Waste Biomass of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Zinicovscaia Inga , Yushin Nikita , Grozdov Dmitrii , Vergel Konstantin , Ostrovnaya Tatiana , Rodlovskaya Elena
Published: November 2020

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, waste biomass originated from beer fermentation industry, was used to remove metal ions from four copper-containing synthetic effluents: Cu-Fe, Cu-Fe-Ni, Cu-Fe-Zn, and Cu-Fe-Ni-Zn. The characterization of the biomass surface was investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The adsorption behavior of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for copper, iron, nickel and zinc ions in aqueous solution was studied as a function of pH, initial copper concentration, equilibrium time, and temperature. Langmiur, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich equilibrium models have been assessed to describe the experimental sorption equilibrium profile, while pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich and the intra-particle diffusion models were applied to describe experimental kinetics data. Maximum sorption capacities have been calculated by means of Langmuir equilibrium model and mean free sorption energies through the Dubinin-Radushkevich model. Thermodynamic analysis results showed that the adsorption of copper, iron and zinc was spontaneous and endothermic in nature, while of nickel exothermic. Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be successfully applied for complex wastewater treatment.
Geocaching in education – a review of international experiences Part 1. Introduction: advantages and problems
Authors: Referowska-Chodak Ewa
Published: November 2020

This article discusses the advantages and challenges of geocaching in education, based on a literature review. The aim is to aid the implementation of similar methods for education in Poland, in particular in the field of forest education.

The most important advantages of educational geocaching include: 1) going out to the field, including direct contact with nature, which promotes positive reception by the educated and helps to shape respect and responsibility towards the environment; 2) enhancing enthusiasm and motivation to work brought about by the joy of searching for treasures, satisfaction from achievements and learning through play; 3) versatility including acquisition of multidisciplinary knowledge, developing skills, problem solving, combining theory and practice as well as physical activity. On the other hand, the problems one faces with the use of geocaching include a lack of knowledge and practice of most educators, fear and reluctance to change the traditional way of teaching, the laborious preparation of geocaching, limitations set by nature such as a short duration of some phenomena or dependence on the weather as well as the pressure on nature resulting from this educational method, which could cause or increase trampling of vegetation and erosion.

In overall, due to the comprehensive advantages of educational geocaching, it should be more widely implemented in both formal and non-formal education in Poland. In the case of the latter, the extensive experience of, among others, foresters, employees of national parks or landscape parks in field education provides further support for geocaching as a useful educational tool. An additional supporting argument is the not always satisfactory effectiveness.

Taking the experiences gathered in other countries into account, especially concerning potential risks and problems, as presented in this article, it is possible to take full advantage of geocaching as a tool or strategy in education, including forest education.
Simplified restructuring proceedings in Poland as an example of anti – crisis regulation due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Adamus Rafał
Published: November 2020

The study discusses new legislative anti – crisis solutions adopted in Poland in connection with the COVID – 19 pandemic. The Polish legislator decided to introduce the so-called simplified restructuring procedure. This happened in the face of the expectations of both the jurisprudence of law and practice. On the one hand, the simplified restructuring procedure (the fifth independent type of restructuring procedure for an entrepreneur in Poland) allows for a quick, cheap and simplified conclusion of an arrangement with creditors outside the court, then approved by the court. On the other hand, the opening of such proceedings gives the debtor protection against enforcement at the creditor‘s request and against bankruptcy at the creditor‘s request. This procedure can be a testing ground for the concept of informalisation and acceleration of restructuring procedures.
Cumulative Grounds in Petitions for Appellate Review and the Right to Fair Judicial Process
Authors: Ficová Svetlana
Published: November 2020

After re-codification of civil law in the Slovak Republic, the rulings of the Supreme Court Special Panel are now binding on all panels of the Supreme Court. The first ruling dealt with a crucial issue of admissibility of appellate review in case of several grounds simultaneously shown in a petition for appellate review. According to the Special Panel’s opinion, cumulative grounds are not admissible either within vertical or horizontal structure. That is, it is not possible to combine the grounds for appellate review defined in the two sections of the Civil Litigation Procedure Code (§ 420 and § 421), or several grounds under the same section (§ 420). Should this occur, the court of appellate review will limit its considerations only to a procedural error specified in § 420, more specifically, the one defined earlier in order of precedence. Within a short period of time, the Supreme Court revised its opinion, and the Special Panel made a contrary ruling by which the cumulative grounds of appellate review were admitted. The purpose of this paper is to consider these two different decisions and to present also some other arguments.
From Stenosis to Restenosis - The New Coronary Artery Disease Continuum in the PCI Era
Authors: Munteanu Alice Elena , Chiriac Liviu , Bolohan Filip Romi , Niţă Daniel , Diaconescu Corina , Ioniţă Iulia Theodora , Casian Mihnea
Published: November 2020

Mortality rates from acute myocardial infarctions have been declining in the past 4 decades since percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) became a valid therapeutical option. PCI is a non-surgical revascularization procedure in which blood flow in an occluded or narrowed epicardial coronary artery is re-established by inflating an angioplasty balloon in order to remove the blockage, followed by the insertion of a stent in order to maintain the patency of the artery. Since the late ‘70s when the first bare metal stents (BMS) became available, progress has been made in developing new types of stents in order to lower the incidence of two important and feared complications: and thrombosis restenosis.

While thrombosis is manageable and preventable with antithrombotic therapy, restenosis is a more complex issue of which many clinicians may not be aware or underestimate. The review would like to summarize the current knowledge from the literature on stent restenosis and present to clinicians some tools for recognizing, or at least suspecting, restenosis in their patients.
Cardiometabolic Risk Profile in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients
Authors: Priscilla Paşc , Coţe Ioana Alexandra , Popescu Mircea Ioachim
Published: November 2020

Cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS), also known as metabolic syndrome X or insulin resistance syndrome is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities including central obesity associated with hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia or hypertension. Each component of CMS is individually associated with an increased risk of coronary events and has a different impact on outcomes and long-term mortality.
Subject-predicate-inversion of Gender-neutral-language: An emancipatory confusion
Authors: Hermeto João Romeiro
Published: November 2020

In this paper, I proposed a paradigm shift in Gender-Neutral-Language. The claim, which Gender-Neutral-Language can account for reality grasping and, thus, enable its actualization, is challenged; in place of an abstract reach towards social change, a more concrete emancipatory praxis must arise. Its current emancipatory prerogatives are not confronted from the standpoint of its already-established arguments but a more comprehensive standpoint of language, more specifically, of the philosophy of language.
Women in antiquity through the eyes of Plutarch
Authors: Antoniou Zacharoula
Published: November 2020

This article deals with the writings of Plutarch and some of his radical views regarding women. Excerpts from Plutarch’s texts referring to female nature are studied and presented. The main issue that occupied Plutarch and many other authors of his era was the question of virtue, a purely philosophical concept deeply rooted in the ancient Greek culture. For this reason, some of Plutarch’s writings focus on the place of virtue in women’s society. Plutarch tries to prove that virtue exists equally in women, that women are dynamic, lawful wives who have the power to take matters into their own hands and who can perceive also the ultimate matter of friendship. This paper, therefore, seeks to show the other side of the coin regarding the position of women in antiquity, among Plutarch’s ethical essays, theMoralia.
On the transpiration of wild olives under water-limited conditions in a heterogeneous ecosystem with shallow soil over fractured rock
Authors: Corona Roberto , Montaldo Nicola
Published: November 2020

Mediterranean ecosystems are typically heterogeneous and savanna-like, with trees and grass competing for water use. By measuring sap flow, we estimated high transpiration of wild olive, a common Mediterranean tree, in Sardinia despite dry conditions. This estimate agrees with independent estimates of tree transpiration based on energy balance, highlighting the wild olive’s strong tolerance of dry conditions. The wild olive can develop an adaptation strategy to tolerate dry conditions. In this Sardinian case study, the wild olive grew in shallow soil, and the tree roots expanded into the underlying fractured basalt. The trees survived in dry periods using water infiltrated during wet seasons into fractured rocks and held in soil pockets. We estimated a high upward vertical flux through the bottom soil layer from the underlying substrate, which reached 97% evapotranspiration in August 2011. The water taken up by tree roots from bedrock hollows is usually neglected in ecohydrological modeling.
Water repellency in eucalyptus and pine plantation forest soils and its relation to groundwater levels estimated with multi-temporal modeling
Authors: Piyaruwan H.I.G.S. , Jayasinghe P.K.S.C. , Leelamanie D.A.L.
Published: November 2020

Water repellency makes soils capable of resisting to the penetration of water applied on the surface and inflict various influences on groundwater. The objectives of the present study were to identify the water repellency under pine and eucalyptus plantations, to determine social impacts of water level changes, to find possible changes in groundwater levels in the surrounding areas during the past four decades, and to relate water repellent characteristics of soils with the groundwater level changes. The study was conducted in eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis) and pine (Pinus caribaea) plantation forests located in Upcountry intermediate zone, Sri Lanka. Each land was separated into three blocks (B1, B2, B3) based on the slope. Water repellency was measured with water drop penetration time (WDPT) and contact angle. The water entry value was estimated with the pressure head method. Interconnected social impacts was examined using a questionnaire based survey. Groundwater levels from 1980 to present were modeled with remotely sensed information. Both eucalyptus and pine forest soils showed water repellency, which decreased with increasing soil depth. Eucalyptus soils showed highly hydrophobic conditions on the surface (WDPT>7200 s). Ponding depths required for entry of water into the soil in eucalyptus soils was 4.6–5.3 cm, whereas that of pine soils was 1.5–4.0 cm, although achieving these levels would be difficult considering the steep slopes. Contact angle showed positive logarithmic correlation with water entry value. The people living in the surrounding areas expressed less water availability for their domestic purposes, decreased water level in household wells, and drying up of natural water resources at present compared with 1980s. Modelling with remotely sensed thematic maps confirmed that the groundwater levels in both areas has decreased over the time. It indicated that the eucalyptus and pine vegetation have created unfavorable conditions in regard with water entry and groundwater recharge. Proper attention from the responsible authorities will be essential to prevent the adverse impacts of on groundwater resources.
Communication of soil water repellency causes, problems, and solutions of intensively managed amenity turf from 2000 to 2020
Authors: Fidanza Michael , Kostka Stanley , Bigelow Cale
Published: November 2020

Research and investigations of soil water repellency in turfgrass science is a relatively recent endeavor, with most notable progress beginning in the late 1990s and early 2000s and continuing into the present. The objectives of this review were to determine the extent of publications from 2000 to the present on the topic of soil water repellency in turfgrass science, and to assemble a list of soil surfactant product formulations currently available for the amenity turf industry in the USA and United Kingdom/Republic of Ireland in 2019. From 1 January 2000 through 1 June 2020, cumulative number of referred or peer-reviewed research journal articles was 64, the number of abstracts, reports, and proceedings was 87, and the number of professional and trade journal articles was 86. Published works in all categories represented a linear increase over time, and is indicative of increased research activity into this critical area of study. Soil surfactant products and formulations in the USA totaled 192, with 65 in UK/Ireland. The nonionic soil surfactant chemical category is the largest, representing 74% of products in the USA, and 66% of products in UK/Ireland. With formulation category, block copolymers and formulations that contain block copolymers or structurally modified block copolymers as a formulation component comprise the largest group with 58% of products in the USA, and 49% of products in UK/Ireland. Also by formulation category, 25% of USA products and 23% of UK/Ireland products are comprised of anionic and anionic blends and other formulations. Of note, 17% of products in the USA and 28% of products in UK/Ireland do not disclose their formulation.

Dr. Louis Dekker’s pioneering insight and advances in soil water repellency has provided turfgrass scientists with a firm foundation and guidance with which to pursue research into the causes, problems, and amelioration of soil water repellency in turfgrass ecosystems. The global amenity turf industry remains the segment where Dr. Dekker’s research has had the most influence and impact to both scientists and turf practitioners.
A generalized sequential problem of Lane-Emden type via fractional calculus
Authors: Gouari Yazid , Dahmani Zoubir , Ndiaye Ameth
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we combine the Riemann-Liouville integral operator and Caputo derivative to investigate a nonlinear time-singular differential equation of Lane Emden type. The considered problem involves n fractional Caputo derivatives under the conditions that neither commutativity nor semi group property is satisfied for these derivatives. We prove an existence and uniqueness analytic result by application of Banach contraction principle. Then, another result that deals with the existence of at least one solution is delivered and some sufficient conditions related to this result are established by means of the fixed point theorem of Schaefer. We end the paper by presenting to the reader some illustrative examples.
Controlled Continuous g-Frames in Hilbert C

*
-Modules
Authors: Kabbaj S. , Labrigui H. , Touri A.
Published: November 2020

Frame Theory has a great revolution in recent years. This Theory have been extended from Hilbert spaces to Hilbert C

*
-modules. The purpose of this paper is the introduction and the study of the concept of Controlled Continuous g-Frames in Hilbert C

*
-Modules. Also we give some properties.
Eigencurves of the p(·)-Biharmonic operator with a Hardy-type term
Authors: Laghzal Mohamed , Khalil Abdelouahed El , Alaoui My Driss Morchid , Touzani Abdelfattah
Published: November 2020

This paper is devoted to the study of the homogeneous Dirichlet problem for a singular nonlinear equation which involves the p(·)-biharmonic operator and a Hardy-type term that depend on the solution and with a parameter λ. By using a variational approach and min-max argument based on Ljusternik-Schnirelmann theory on C
1-manifolds [13], we prove that the considered problem admits at least one nondecreasing sequence of positive eigencurves with a characterization of the principal curve μ
1(λ) and also show that, the smallest curve μ
1(λ) is positive for all 0 ≤ λ < C

H
, with C

H
is the optimal constant of Hardy type inequality.
Multivariate Caputo left fractional Landau inequalities
Authors: Anastassiou George A.
Published: November 2020

Relied on author’s first ever found multivariate Caputo fractional Taylor’s formula (2009, [1], Chapter 13), we develop and prove several multivariate left side Caputo fractional uniform Landau type inequalities.
The Brudevals, ‘Danishness’ and lived reality
Authors: Damsholt Inger
Published: November 2020

This article represents part of the author’s ongoing empirical study of the Danish brudevals (bridal waltz) tradition recognized by the means of three characteristic conditions: a specific piece of music by Niels W. Gade, a particular group choreography in which a circle of clapping guests slowly move closer to the newlywed couple and a final section of the ritual in which guests cut the tips of the groom’s socks. The purpose of the article is to highlight how current realisations of the dance reveal the brudevals as a dynamic living tradition and to show the complexity of the political implications it can have when dancing it. Drawing on Sarah Ahmed’s affect theory, the article argues that different negotiations of the brudevals naturalise various understandings of ‘Danishness’. The article argues that an alternative contemporary form of the brudevals, which incorporates a montage of international popular dance and music, produces a version of national identity that underlines the notion of world citizenship as a significant part of being Danish. In realisations of the brudevals danced by same-sex couples, a kind of ‘Danishness’ is produced through affect that naturalises and celebrates Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA) marriages. Finally, a Turkish-Danish brudevals produces a multiculturalist understanding of ‘Danishness’, which does not conform to a specific national cultural heritage but can encompass several ethnic groups.
Formal and Professional Requirements for Medical, Paramedical and Technical Staff of Hyperbaric Centres. Part 2
Authors: Siermontowski Piotr , Skrzyński Stanisław
Published: November 2020

This two-part article reviews the current legal situation of professional personnel implementing hyperbaric procedures other than those used for diving. Numerous inconsistencies between the existing legal acts and the lack of legal regulations concerning procedures not financed from the State budget are shown.

The first significant problem was the lack of mutual correlation of various regulations of the Minister of Health concerning hyperbaric diseases, as well as incoherence with medical and nursing specialisation programs in force in Poland.

The second problem is the lack of requirements in the documents of the Ministry of Health for medical staff other than doctors and nurses, including technical staff, necessary for the implementation of a safe oxybarotherapy procedure.

The situation is clearer with respect to technical personnel than in relation to medical personnel. There are provisions which strictly define the qualifications of such staff for a very narrow group of technical personnel. Although they deal with issues related to the use of hyperbaric chambers in diving, to date no other separate regulations have been developed for medical applications of hyperbaric therapy. Unfortunately, both in centres financed by the National Health Fund and in private centres, no-one observes these regulations because there is no such formal requirement.

The same applies to occupational research (occupational medicine) for all groups of personnel involved in hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments.

It was also found that medical hyperbaric centres not seeking funding from the budget (the National Health Fund) do not have even minimum qualification requirements for the medical staff working there. Furthermore, there is no knowledge of the requirements set out in other legal acts other than those concerning medicine.
Research on the Time of Visual Muscular Response in Divers During Diving
Authors: Dolatkowski Augustyn , Dęga Kazimierz , Klajman Stanisław , Torbus Janusz
Published: November 2020

The paper presents a continuation of studies on the influence of increased ambient pressure on the eye-muscle reflex. Using the same methods, the research was carried out in real conditions, i.e. during dives in water. Dives were performed in classical equipment with air as a breathing mix at depths of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 m. It was found that statistically significant differences in the time of eye-muscle reflexes occur during the transition from 0 to 10, from 40 to 50 and 50 to 60 meters of overpressure. In the conclusions, it was found that the prolongation of reflex time is much greater than in hyperbaric chamber studies. As in previous studies, toxic effects of components of the breathing mixture, especially nitrogen, were considered the main cause.
Nursing care of a child with type 1 diabetes mellitus – a nursing process using the International Classification of Nursing Practice ICNP®
Authors: Ronkowska Julita , Stefanowicz-Bielska Anna
Published: November 2020

Introduction. Type 1 diabetes is the most common chronic childhood disease.

Aim. The aim of the study is to present the process of nursing a child with DMT1 and its family using the terminology from ICNP®.

Material and methods. The study is based on a case report and a literature review. The study was conducted in December 2019. A written consent of the child’s mother was obtained for the study.

Results and conclusions. Proper nursing care, intensive diabetes education and optimal treatment are essential to ensure the best quality of life while minimizing the risk of acute metabolic disorders and chronic complications. Using ICNP® terminology enables the creation of a detailed and holistic nursing process for a child with DMT1 and its family. Based on the information obtained, nursing diagnoses were formulated: dyspnea, nausea, hyperglycaemia, hypoglycaemia, lack of knowledge of illness, lack of knowledge of treatment regime, lack of knowledge of diet regime, overweight, anxiety, impaired socialization, risk of impaired parenting. The nursing interventions will help to achieve an appropriate standard of living as well as reduce the risk of acute metabolic disorders and chronic diabetes complications.
Rebekah Hyneman’s Leaves of the Upas Tree: A Tale of (In)temperance and (Im)morality
Authors: Rabinovich Irina
Published: November 2020

The intent of this paper is to examine the use, by nineteenth-century American authors, of the temperance novel, a popular literary sub-genre in antebellum America, as a literary means for presenting the widespread controversy in the nation as regards the achievements of temperance societies. Moreover, my goal is to show that the popularity of temperance novels, in spite of their didactic and moralistic nature, displays the public’s readiness to consume temperance literature, thus reciprocating the attempt of writers to promote social ideals and heal social ills. Finally, since Rebekah Hyneman, a convert to Judaism, is the only Jewish-American writer who wrote a temperance novel, and is one among a small number of female writers who used this genre, it is interesting to examine if and how her double “Otherness” (being a Jew and a female novelist) distinguishes her from her literary Christian male and/or female counterparts. Hyneman’s novel Leaves of the Upas Tree: A Story for Every Household (1854–55) serves as a case in point of a temperance novel that demonstrates how a dysfunctional American family operates as a microcosm and how temperance and other charitable societies fail to cope with individuals’ tribulations. More importantly, the novel aims to attest that a familial defective unit, affected by excessive drinking, breeds a ruthless societal macrocosm, lacking compassion, empathy, and social and communal support. The merciless, xenophobic and anti-Semitic community depicted in the novel serves as a prism through which the author presents much more acute plagues afflicting America.
Representation of Rhetorical Presence in Virginia Woolf’s “Madame de Sévigné”
Authors: Cuervo Margarita Esther Sánchez
Published: November 2020

This paper seeks to represent rhetorical presence in “Madame de Sevigne”, an essay by Virginia Woolf that reviews Sevigne’s collection of letters. In general, Woolf’s essays that appraise an author and her/his work are organised into several sections that correspond to the traditional rhetorical levels of inventio, dispositio and elocutio. The synergy of arguments and figures that are found at each of these levels are first-order effects which can create rhetorical presence, defined as a strategy that relies on the selection of certain elements and how they are presented to the audience. Presence of this kind involves a second-order effect which transmits the persuasive and expressive value of the essay if several conditions pertaining to the values of the audience and Woolf’s expertise in writing are attained. “Madame de Sevigne” is persuasive in that it tries to increase readers’ admiration towards the letter writer and thus affects the readers in a positive way. This admiration is achieved by means of Woolf’s specific use of language, which amplifies Sevigne’s figure and grants expressive prominence to the text.
Strangers in Togetherville – Women, Physics and Popular Culture
Authors: Oramus Dominika
Published: November 2020

By drawing on Jean Baudrillard’s cultural theory this paper aims to show how contemporary popular culture tells the stories of scientifically talented women of the past. In the course of my argument, I refer to books and films set in the past and focus on the women-and-science motif. Firstly, the stories of individual female scientists living long ago are analysed (Mileva Einstein, Joan Clarke), then, the collective female protagonists – wives of scientists living together in “togethervilles” (Los Alamos, Atomic City), and women scientists pictured in speculative fiction – are discussed. The cliches used in these texts – lonely forgotten geniuses, female worthies taken advantage of, ostracised women accused of not being feminine enough and devoted wives who help their men and their countries in World Wars I and II or the Cold War – reflect ideologies that Western culture used to believe in. Conversely, the two original presentations of past female scientists that I found both come from speculative fiction concerned with science and heavily influenced by the ideologies of science: science and pacifism, science and a sense of guilt, and science as a weapon in the quest for democracy and freedom.
Self-Presentation and Language Abstraction in Recruitment Context
Authors: Annette Burguet
Published: November 2020

The present research explicates how job applicants employ language abstraction to present themselves as a good or bad candidate. According to the LIB theory (Maass, Salvi, Arcuri, & Semin, 1989), we tested the hypothesis that, with positive instruction (i.e., to be recruited), participants’ responses would be more abstract with positive items and more concrete with negative items. Conversely, we expected that participants’ responses would be more concrete with positive items and more abstract with negative ones when the instruction was negative (i.e., to not be recruited). Results of this experiment (N = 85 French participants) confirm our hypothesis and revealed a strong interaction effect between level of language abstraction and goal of self-presentation. Implications for linguistic bias effect and normative behavior in the interpersonal context of recruitment are discussed.
Motion Characteristics After Ricochet: An Experimental Investigation
Authors: Chen Guoming , Hu Junhua , Liu An , Feng Jinfu , Hu Qingqing
Published: November 2020

The ricochet behaviour of the air–water trans-media vehicle (AWTMV) during water-entry crossing was experimentally investigated. Three types of small-scale AWTMV including cone, ogive, and flat nose were used in the test. The underwater trajectory, velocity, and inclination angle of projectiles during the ricochet process were obtained using a high-speed camera. The angle change of the AWTMV and the ratio of the residual velocity are introduced. Based on this result, the relationship between the ricochet responses and initial conditions was derived. The results of this study show that (1) a small incident angle and great velocity make the occurrence of ricochet behaviour easier, (2) the stability of the trajectory of projectiles with cone, ogive, and flat nose weakened in turn at the same initial conditions, (3) the angle change and the ratio of the residual velocity are linear functions of the incident angle and velocity.
Parametric Method Applicable in Assessing Breakout Force and Time for Lifting Slender Bodies from Seabed
Authors: Michalski Jan P.
Published: November 2020

The article presents a parametric method applicable in assessing the suction force of a slender body to the seabed, and prognosing the body extrication time. Along with the body weight in water, the information on the suction force is essential for assessing the force needed to lift the object from the seabed. Based on the Foda theory and the resulting integral equation, which relates the maximum suction force with basic parameters of the issue of concern, the parametric method has been developed which can be widely applied in engineering practice of lifting objects. A set of discrete values of parameters selected from the range of typical values for engineering practice was the basis for developing algebraic formulas approximating the integral Foda equation for slender bodies. The included results of tests present the variability of suction force characteristics and the envelopes of maximum forces needed to extricate the body from the seabed.
Limiting Distribution of the Three-State Semi-Markov Model of Technical State Transitions of Ship Power Plant Machines and its Applicability in Operational Decision-Making
Authors: Girtler Jerzy
Published: November 2020

The article presents the three-state semi-Markov model of the process {W(t): t ≥ 0} of state transitions of a ship power plant machine, with the following interpretation of these states: s1 – state of full serviceability, s2 – state of partial serviceability, and s3 – state of unserviceability. These states are precisely defined for the ship main engine (ME). A hypothesis is proposed which explains the possibility of application of this model to examine models of real state transitions of ship power plant machines. Empirical data concerning ME were used for calculating limiting probabilities for the process {W(t): t ≥ 0}. The applicability of these probabilities in decision making with the assistance of the Bayesian statistical theory is demonstrated. The probabilities were calculated using a procedure included in the computational software MATHEMATICA, taking into consideration the fact that the random variables representing state transition times of the process {W(t): t ≥ 0} have gamma distributions. The usefulness of the Bayesian statistical theory in operational decision-making concerning ship power plants is shown using a decision dendrite which maps ME states and consequences of particular decisions, thus making it possible to choose between the following two decisions: d1 – first perform a relevant preventive service of the engine to restore its state and then perform the commissioned task within the time limit determined by the customer, and d2 – omit the preventive service and start performing the commissioned task.
Ultrasonic Detection of the Intravascular Free Gas Phase in Research on Diving
Authors: Kłos Ryszard
Published: November 2020

The article presents a unique atypical application of the sonography technique and a methodological description of the introduction of this technique to research. The Bayesian approach applied to validation of the Doppler method for intravascular detection of the free gas phase instead of typical statistical inference has been demonstrated in the article. It describes the place of this method in the diving research work conducted in the Polish Naval Academy without any detailed analysis of the results achieved in the studies on decompression supported by ultrasonic detection of the free gas phase in venous vessels. It is a commonly held opinion that Doppler ultrasonic detection of the intravascular free gas phase is not a procedure that can be particularly useful in decompression research. The main objection is that detection of the free gas phase in venous vessels is a weak function to predict the presence of the free gas phase in tissues and arterial blood, so this method is not suitable for assessing the risk of decompression. Only a few countries disagree with this commonly held view and use this method to assess the risk of decompression in decompression studies. France has introduced detection of the free gas phase in venous vessels for diving research and then, together with Canada, improved this method, and developed it to a standard form. Based on the published results of the Canadian research, the technique was evaluated at the Naval Academy using statistical methods. The Academy accepted and adopted the results of this research and started to use this method in its own research on decompression over 25 years ago and continues to use it to great effect.
Identification of Alternative Landfill Site Using QGIS in a Densely Populated Metropolitan Area
Authors: Sheoran Savita Kumari , Parmar Vinti
Published: November 2020

Appropriate landfill site selection for disposal of solid waste is a very complicated assignment, as it needs multicriteria analysis of various parameters. In this study, we have used QGIS for identification of alternative landfill site in Gurugram district, a satellite city of New Delhi. Various criteria are analysed for selecting the landfill sites. Weight and rank are assigned to the criterion such as road networks, presence of water bodies, residential locations, and depth of the underground water table by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Five possible landfill sites have been identified for solid waste disposal based upon the AHP method analysis and overlay analysis in GIS tool in Gurugram district. The methodology used in this paper is very efficient for performing multicriteria analysis and can be generalised for selecting landfill sites in other areas with similar demographics.
How Does the Romanian State Support the Increase of Energy Efficiency of Buildings by Using Public Funds?
Authors: Barbu Liliana
Published: November 2020

The issue of improving the energy efficiency of buildings in Romania is one of interest, both for the state authorities and for the population. The general purpose is to encourage the production of thermal energy and domestic hot water through the use of renewable energy sources. This is part of the EU's long-term objective of decarbonising the existing and inefficient European real estate park. In order to start renovating the existing buildings on the national territory, considerable financial resources are needed which the owners should have. The Romanian state, through the Agency for Environmental Protection, comes to the support the interested persons by granting financial support within the “Green House” Programs. The present paper includes an analysis of the four “Green House” programs and the public funds used to increase the energy efficiency of the buildings.
Financial Spending Behavior Patterns Based on Education, Gender and Age
Authors: Bugheanu Alexandru-Mihai , Străchinaru Adina-lonela
Published: November 2020

This paper develops an analysis in the field of financial spending behavior. The study will focus particularly on habits based on education level, gender and age. Towards this objective, we will present and test three hypotheses based on the education level for the respondents, the differences between males and females, and the correlation between the spending behavior and age. Unlike most of the previous studies, this analysis has a double approach. First of all, it presents several findings regarding differences in terms of spending behaviour and also conclusions in terms of explaining financial patterns. We contribute to the literature examining the concern over the spending behaviour of individuals from Romania. Furthermore, this contribution is focused on understanding and explaining the results and their influence using statistical analysis.
The Impact of the Current Crisis Generated by the COVID-19 Pandemic on Consumer Behavior
Authors: Oana Duralia
Published: November 2020

It is well known that the extent to which the supply manages to adapt to the demands and changes in consumer behavior is key to the success of a business or, in the current economic context, to the survival of a business. This paper aims to analyze the manner in which the perception and attitude of the individual towards risk causes major changes in its purchasing behavior and, implicitly, to identify the tools of marketing with a favorable impact on the consumer, in the economic and social context generated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Although the fear and concern generated by the current economic and social crisis are visibly affecting both social behavior in general, and purchasing behavior in particular, finding effective ways to inform and communicate with consumers to facilitate their access to up-to-date and highly accurate information is essential both to meet the growing need for information in conditions of risk and uncertainty, and to guide the purchasing decision towards the best alternative for the consumer.
Cell Extractor
Authors: Gheorghe A.C.
Published: November 2020

The study aims for the development of a system for cellular extraction, developed at the level of an experimental model, with the help of which the user can generate a series of sessions of cellular extraction from the cultures of specific cells. To move to the prototype level, the system that will materialize in an specialized equipment for cell extraction and inter / intra-cell injection needs a developed user interface, so that the equipment as a whole is easy to use by the human operator. The present project provides a viable technical interfacing solution for the above mentioned equipment, using the Raspberry Pi hardware resources and the Python C. software resources. Demonstrating the capability of the Raspberry Pi - Python technical tandem for the biomedical equipment to be built is the essence of this project, and the further development of a specialized user interface is a natural step.
Office-made 4% Albendazole Cream is an Effective Alternative Therapy for Cutaneous Larva Migrans: A Report of Three Cases
Authors: Mulia Rizki Citra , Djawad Khairuddin , Adriani Anni , Idrus Idrianti
Published: November 2020

Introduction. Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM), commonly called creeping eruption, is a parasitic skin disorder caused by the invasion of larva to the skin. This disease classically presents as serpiginous lesions. Larva frequently originates from fecal material of cats and dogs. The pruritus is usually intense and if not treated might disrupt activity, lead to secondary infection, and extend to other regions. Oral and topical antihelminthic agents are the first-line treatment with excellent clinical response. However, they are not always readily available, as is it the case in our region. We attempt to tackle this limitation by formulating an office-made albendazole cream. This report shows the clinical efficacy of our regimen in three cases of CLM.

Case Report. We report three cases of CLM diagnosed through history taking and clinical presentation. All cases were treated with topical office-made albendazole as requested by the patients and due to resource limitation. The topical preparation was made by dissolving 400 mg albendazole tablet into sterile water and mixing it with Vaseline to form 4% cream. Three times daily application for seven days led to excellent clinical response.

Conclusion. Our 4% office-made albendazole cream was shown to be effective in treating CLM. Thus, this simple and practical preparation may serve as an alternative treatment for CLM.