bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding Nanoparticle Toxicity to Direct a Safe-by-Design Approach in Cancer Nanomedicine
Authors: Damasco Jossana A. , Ravi Saisree , Perez Joy D. , Hagaman Daniel E. , Melancon Marites P.
Published: November 2020

Nanomedicine is a rapidly growing field that uses nanomaterials for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of various diseases, including cancer. Various biocompatible nanoplatforms with diversified capabilities for tumor targeting, imaging, and therapy have materialized to yield individualized therapy. However, due to their unique properties brought about by their small size, safety concerns have emerged as their physicochemical properties can lead to altered pharmacokinetics, with the potential to cross biological barriers. In addition, the intrinsic toxicity of some of the inorganic materials (i.e., heavy metals) and their ability to accumulate and persist in the human body has been a challenge to their translation. Successful clinical translation of these nanoparticles is heavily dependent on their stability, circulation time, access and bioavailability to disease sites, and their safety profile. This review covers preclinical and clinical inorganic-nanoparticle based nanomaterial utilized for cancer imaging and therapeutics. A special emphasis is put on the rational design to develop non-toxic/safe inorganic nanoparticle constructs to increase their viability as translatable nanomedicine for cancer therapies.
Association between Iron Intake and Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes: Significance of Iron Intake and the Ratio between Iron Intake and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Intake
Authors: Kim Kyuho , Song YoonJu , Oh Tae Jung , Choi Sung Hee , Jang Hak Chul
Published: November 2020

We aimed to investigate the association of iron and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in individuals with type 2 diabetes. This cross-sectional study included 147 individuals with type 2 diabetes. Dietary intake was assessed using three-day food records. DPN was diagnosed on the basis of a Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument—Physical Examination score ≥2.5. Adjusted for total energy intake, iron intake was significantly higher in individuals with DPN than in those without DPN (10.9 ± 4.0 mg vs. 9.9 ± 3.6 mg, p = 0.041). In addition, the iron/PUFA ratio was significantly higher in individuals with DPN (1.4 ± 0.8 vs. 1.1 ± 0.4, p = 0.005). Logistic regression analyses showed that iron intake (odds ratio (OR): 1.152; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.012, 1.311) and iron/PUFA ratio (OR: 2.283; 95% CI: 1.066, 4.887) were associated with DPN after adjustment for total energy intake, sex, age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diabetes duration, estimated glomerular filtration rate, glycated hemoglobin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and smoking. In conclusion, high dietary iron intake and an elevated iron/PUFA ratio were associated with the presence of DPN. The present study suggests the importance of the dietary pattern of iron and PUFA intake in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Impact of Long-Term Supplementation with Fish Oil in Individuals with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Double Blind Randomized Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Cansanção Kátia , Citelli Marta , Carvalho Leite Nathalie , López de las Hazas María-Carmen , Dávalos Alberto , Tavares do Carmo Maria das Graças , Peres Wilza Arantes Ferreira
Published: November 2020

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic disease affecting up to 25% of the population worldwide. n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) have been associated with improved clinical parameters of NAFLD. Our purpose was to conduct a pilot study to evaluate the effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study performed on NAFLD individuals diagnosed by ultrasound. Patients received n-3 PUFA (n = 13) or placebo (n = 11) supplementation for six months. Circulating miR-122 expression (determined by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), liver fibrosis (FibroScan®), red blood cells (RBC) fatty acids (gas chromatography), and biochemical tests were performed at baseline and after intervention. After the intervention, in the n-3 PUFA group, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and omega index increased significantly in RBC (p = 0.022 and p = 0.012, respectively), in addition to a significant reduction in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p = 0.002) and liver fibrosis (p = 0.039). However, there was no change in the expression of circulating miR-122 in both groups. Our results showed that omega-3 PUFA were incorporated in erythrocytes after six months of fish oil supplementary intake, and that n-3 PUFA were effective in reducing ALP and liver fibrosis without altering the expression of circulating miR-122 in individuals with NAFLD.
Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: Treatment with Laser
Authors: Battaglia Parodi Maurizio , Arrigo Alessandro , Iacono Pierluigi , Falcomatà Bruno , Bandello Francesco
Published: November 2020

Currently, no general consensus exists regarding the management of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Laser treatments include three different therapeutic approaches: conventional laser, subthreshold laser and photodynamic therapy. Conventional focal laser, addressed to seal the leaking points, as evidenced on fluorescein angiography, was largely used in the past, but now, it is almost completely abandoned, owing to the potential complications. Several studies confirmed the positive effects achieved by subthreshold laser treatment in CSC, even though its improper application in the PLACE trial has questioned the effectiveness.
A Role for Primary Care Pharmacists in the Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease? Lessons from Chronic Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Prasad Sharmila S. , Duncanson Kerith , Keely Simon , Talley Nicholas J. , Kairuz Therése , Holtmann Gerald J. , Shah Ayesha , Walker Marjorie M.
Published: November 2020

Background and aims: Chronic disease, particularly inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), requires a multifaceted approach to managing patients, but it is apparent that primary care pharmacists are being underutilized. To demonstrate the benefits of pharmacist interventions in primary care, a systematic review was conducted of interventions in asthma and type 2 diabetes where pharmacists have a defined role in chronic disease management. We also explored potential opportunities for primary care pharmacists to deliver tailored care to patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: The search strategy retrieved original research articles from seven databases; eligible articles were assessed for inclusion. Quality appraisal was performed independently by two reviewers. Results: Thirty-seven included studies were grouped into four categories of interventions: education/counseling (43%), medication management (34%), monitoring/follow-up (17%), and screening/risk prevention (6%). Education plus counseling was reported as the main intervention delivered by pharmacists. Three measurable outcomes were identified: clinical, humanistic (e.g., quality of life), and economic. Clinical outcomes (63%) were reported more commonly than humanistic (26%) and economic (11%) outcomes. Pharmacist interventions led to statistically significant improvements in control of disease, severity, and medication adherence, as well as improvements in overall patient satisfaction, quality of life among patients with asthma and type 2 diabetes. Conclusion: As one of the most accessible sources of primary health care, pharmacists are well-placed to minimize the impact of chronic diseases on patients and communities. Evidence suggests there are opportunities for primary care pharmacists to play a more active role in the management of chronic diseases such as IBD.
Use of Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) Nanoparticles as Reinforcement Agent of Polysaccharide-Based Materials
Authors: Anaya-Esparza Luis Miguel , Villagrán-de la Mora Zuamí , Ruvalcaba-Gómez José Martín , Romero-Toledo Rafael , Sandoval-Contreras Teresa , Aguilera-Aguirre Selene , Montalvo-González Efigenia , Pérez-Larios Alejandro
Published: November 2020

In recent years, a strong interest has emerged in polysaccharide-hybrid composites and their potential applications, which have interesting functional and technological properties. This review summarizes and discusses the reported advantages and limitations of the functionalization of conventional and nonconventional polysaccharides by adding TiO2 nanoparticles as a reinforcement agent. Their effects on the mechanical, thermal, and UV-barrier properties as well as their water-resistance are discussed. In general, the polysaccharide–TiO2 hybrid materials showed improved physicochemical properties in a TiO2 content-dependent response. It showed antimicrobial activity against bacteria (gram-negative and gram-positive), yeasts, and molds with enhanced UV-protective effects for food and non-food packaging purposes. The reported applications of functionalized polysaccharide–TiO2 composites include photocatalysts (dye removal from aqueous media and water purification), biomedical (wound-healing material, drug delivery systems, biosensor, and tissue engineering), food preservation (fruits and meat), cosmetics (sunscreen and bleaching tooth treatment), textile (cotton fabric self-cleaning), and dye-sensitized solar cells. Furthermore, the polysaccharide–TiO2 showed high biocompatibility without adverse effects on different cell lines, indicating that their use in food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical applications is safe. However, it is necessary to evaluate the structural changes promoted by the storage conditions (time and temperature) on the physicochemical properties of polysaccharide–TiO2 hybrid composites to guarantee their stability during a determined time.
Assessing the Performance of a Low-Cost Thermal Camera in Proximal and Aerial Conditions
Authors: Acorsi Matheus Gabriel , Gimenez Leandro Maria , Martello Maurício
Published: November 2020

The development of low-cost miniaturized thermal cameras has expanded the use of remotely sensed surface temperature and promoted advances in applications involving proximal and aerial data acquisition. However, deriving accurate temperature readings from these cameras is often challenging due to the sensitivity of the sensor, which changes according to the internal temperature. Moreover, the photogrammetry processing required to produce orthomosaics from aerial images can also be problematic and introduce errors to the temperature readings. In this study, we assessed the performance of the FLIR Lepton 3.5 camera in both proximal and aerial conditions based on precision and accuracy indices derived from reference temperature measurements. The aerial analysis was conducted using three flight altitudes replicated along the day, exploring the effect of the distance between the camera and the target, and the blending mode configuration used to create orthomosaics. During the tests, the camera was able to deliver results within the accuracy reported by the manufacturer when using factory calibration, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.08 °C for proximal condition and ≤3.18 °C during aerial missions. Results among different flight altitudes revealed that the overall precision remained stable (R² = 0.94–0.96), contrasting with the accuracy results, decreasing towards higher flight altitudes due to atmospheric attenuation, which is not accounted by factory calibration (RMSE = 2.63–3.18 °C). The blending modes tested also influenced the final accuracy, with the best results obtained with the average (RMSE = 3.14 °C) and disabled mode (RMSE = 3.08 °C). Furthermore, empirical line calibration models using ground reference targets were tested, reducing the errors on temperature measurements by up to 1.83 °C, with a final accuracy better than 2 °C. Other important results include a simplified co-registering method developed to overcome alignment issues encountered during orthomosaic creation using non-geotagged thermal images, and a set of insights and recommendations to reduce errors when deriving temperature readings from aerial thermal imaging.
Multi-Granularity Mission Negotiation for a Decentralized Remote Sensing Satellite Cluster
Authors: Deng Xuelei , Dong Yunfeng , Xie Shucong
Published: November 2020

Satellite remote sensing is developing towards the micro-satellite cluster, which brings new challenges to mission assignment and planning for the cluster. A multi-agent system (MAS) is used, but the time delay caused by communication and computation is rarely considered. To solve the problem, a neural-network-based multi-granularity negotiation method under decentralized architecture is proposed. Firstly, we divided negotiation into three levels of granularity, and they work in different modes. Secondly, a neural network was trained to help the satellite select the best level in real-time. Through experiments, we compared the satellites working in three different levels of granularity, in which a multi-granularity decision was used. As a result of our experiments, a lower cost-effectiveness ratio was obtained, which proved that the multi-granularity negotiation method proposed in this paper is practical.
Water Quality Anomalies following the 2017 Hurricanes in Southwestern Puerto Rico: Absorption of Colored Detrital and Dissolved Material
Authors: Ortiz-Rosa Suhey , Hernández William J. , Williams Stacey M. , Armstrong Roy A.
Published: November 2020

Absorption of colored dissolved organic matter or detrital gelbstoff (aCDOM/ADG) and light attenuation coefficient (Kd490) parameters were studied at La Parguera Natural Reserve in southwestern Puerto Rico, before and following Hurricanes Irma (6–7 September) and María (20–21 September) in 2017. Water quality assessments involving Sentinel 3A ocean color products and field sample data was performed. The estimated mean of ADG in surface waters was calculated at >0.1 m−1 with a median of 0.05 m−1 and aCDOM443 ranged from 0.0023 to 0.1121 m−1 in field samples (n=21) in 2017. Mean ADG443 values increased from July to August at 0.167 to 0.353 m−1 in September–October over Turrumote reef (LP6) with a maximum value of 0.683 m−1. Values above 0.13 m−1 persisted at offshore waters off Guánica Bay and over coral reef areas at La Parguera for over four months. The ADG443 product presented values above the median and the second standard deviation of 0.0428 m−1 from September to October 2017 and from water sample measurement on 19 October 2017. Mean Kd490 values increased from 0.16 m−1 before hurricanes to 0.28 right after Hurricane Irma. The value remained high, at 0.34 m−1, until October 2017, a month after Hurricane María. Analysis of the Sentinel (S3) OLCI products showed a significant positive correlation (rs = 0.71, p = 0.0005) between Kd490_M07 and ADG_443, indicating the influence of ADG on light attenuation. These significant short-term changes could have ecological impacts on benthic habitats highly dependent on light penetration, such as coral reefs, in southwestern Puerto Rico.
Energy and Transmission Efficiency Enhancement in Passive Optical Network Enabled Reconfigurable Fronthaul Supporting Smart Homes
Authors: Gu Rentao , Wang Gang , Li Zhekang , Ji Yuefeng
Published: November 2020

Smart home technologies are growing actively all around the world. As a result, great pressures are imposed on internet of things networks by dynamic traffic and plenty of devices. The passive optical network is considered one of the most promising fronthaul technologies. In particular, the time and wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network has shown the advantage of high capacity and received attention recently. In support of internet of things networks, the energy and transmission efficiency has emerged as an important issue on the time and wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network enabled fronthaul networks. In this paper, we try to enhance the energy and transmission efficiency of the time and wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network enabled reconfigurable fronthaul. Fronthaul links’ load balancing is also taken into consideration. An integer non-linear programming model is employed to formulate the joint optimization problem. We also provide an adaptive genetic algorithm-based approach with fast convergence. The simulation results show that the active units of fronthaul can be dynamically switched on/off with the traffic variation and a significant energy saving is achieved. In addition, the maximum transmission efficiency increases by 87% with integer non-linear programming method in off-peak periods.
An Evaluation of Low-Cost Vision Processors for Efficient Star Identification
Authors: Agarwal Surabhi , Hervas-Martin Elena , Byrne Jonathan , Dunne Aubrey , Luis Espinosa-Aranda Jose , Rijlaarsdam David
Published: November 2020

Star trackers are navigation sensors that are used for attitude determination of a satellite relative to certain stars. A star tracker is required to be accurate and also consume as little power as possible in order to be used in small satellites. While traditional approaches use lookup tables for identifying stars, the latest advances in star tracking use neural networks for automatic star identification. This manuscript evaluates two low-cost processors capable of running a star identification neural network, the Intel Movidius Myriad 2 Vision Processing Unit (VPU) and the STM32 Microcontroller. The intention of this manuscript is to compare the accuracy and power usage to evaluate the suitability of each device for use in a star tracker. The Myriad 2 VPU and the STM32 Microcontroller have been specifically chosen because of their performance on computer vision algorithms alongside being cost-effective and low power consuming devices. The experimental results showed that the Myriad 2 proved to be efficient and consumed around 1 Watt of power while maintaining 99.08% accuracy with an input including false stars. Comparatively the STM32 was able to deliver comparable accuracy (99.07%) and power measurement results. The proposed experimental setup is beneficial for small spacecraft missions that require low-cost and low power consuming star trackers.
On the Application of K-User MIMO for 6G Enhanced Mobile Broadband
Authors: Yerrapragada Anil Kumar , Kelley Brian
Published: November 2020

This paper presents a high-throughput wireless access framework for future 6G networks. This framework, known as K-User MIMO, facilitates all-to-all communication between K access points and K mobile devices. For such a network, we illustrate the demodulation of K2 independent data streams through a new interference cancellation beamforming algorithm that improves spectral efficiency compared to massive MIMO. The paper derives a multi-user Shannon Capacity formula for K-User MIMO when K is greater than or equal to 3. We define an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) frame structure that demonstrates the allocation of time-frequency resources to pilot signals for channel estimation. The capacity formula is then refined to include realistic pilot overheads. We determine a practical upper-bound for MIMO array sizes that balances estimation overhead and throughput. Lastly, simulation results show the practical capacity in small cell geometries under Rayleigh Fading conditions, with both perfect and realistic channel estimation.
Finding Possible Weakness in the Runoff Simulation Experiments to Assess Rill Erosion Changes without Non-Intermittent Surveying Capabilities
Authors: Remke Alexander André , Rodrigo-Comino Jesus , Wirtz Stefan , Ries Johannes B.
Published: November 2020

The Terrestrial Photogrammetry Scanner (TEPHOS) offers the possibility to precisely monitor linear erosion features using the Structure from Motion (SfM) technique. This is a static, multi-camera array and dynamically moves the digital videoframe camera designed to obtain 3-D models of rills before and after the runoff experiments. The main goals were to (1) obtain better insight into the rills; (2) reduce the technical gaps generated during the runoff experiments using only one camera; (3) enable the visual location of eroded, transported and accumulated material. In this study, we obtained a mean error for all pictures reaching up to 0.00433 pixels and every single one of them was under 0.15 pixel. So, we obtained an error of about 1/10th of the maximum possible resolution. A conservative value for the overall accuracy was one pixel, which means that, in our case, the accuracy was 0.0625 mm. The point density, in our example, reached 29,484,888 pts/m2. It became possible to get a glimpse of the hotspots of sidewall failure and rill-bed incision. We conclude that the combination of both approaches—rill experiment and 3D models—will make easy under laboratory conditions to describe the soil erosion processes accurately in a mathematical–physical way.
The Relative Importance of the Small Intestine and the Liver in Phase II Metabolic Transformations and Elimination of p-Nitrophenol Administered in Different Doses in the Rat
Authors: Almási Attila , Perjési Pál , Fischer Emil
Published: November 2020

Intestinal and hepatic function have been investigated in phase II metabolic reactions and elimination of p-nitrophenol (PNP) in the rat. A jejunal loop was cannulated and recirculated with isotonic solutions containing PNP in different concentrations (0, 20, 100, 500, 1000 µM). Samples were obtained from the perfusate at given intervals. To investigate the metabolic and excretory functions of the liver, the bile duct was cannulated, and the bile was collected. Metabolites of PNP were determined by validated HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography) methods. The results demonstrated the relative importance of the small intestine and the liver in phase II metabolic transformations and elimination of PNP. There were significant differences between the luminal and biliary appearances of p-nitrophenol-glucuronide (PNP-G) and p-nitrophenol–sulfate (PNP-S). The PNP-G appeared in the intestinal lumen at the lower PNP concentrations (20 µM and 100 µM) at higher rate than in the bile. No significant difference was found between the intestinal and the biliary excretion of PNP-G when PNP was administered at a concentration of 500 µM. However, a reverse ratio of these parameters was observed at the administration of 1000 µM PNP. The results indicated that both the small intestine and the liver might play an important role in phase II metabolic reactions and elimination of PNP. However, the relative importance of the small intestine and the liver can be dependent on the dose of drugs.
Trekking Tourism in Spain: Analysis of the Sociodemographic Profile of Trekking Tourists for the Design of Sustainable Tourism Services
Authors: Rojo-Ramos Jorge , Martín-Carmona Rubén , Galán-Arroyo Carmen , Manzano-Redondo Fernando , García-Gordillo Miguel Ángel , Adsuar José Carmelo
Published: November 2020

The practice of sports activities related to nature and the environment is a social and tourist phenomenon that is increasingly popular. In this paper, we aim to find and analyze the sociodemographic characteristics of tourists who take trips in order to find and enjoy trekking opportunities. Thus, it seeks to facilitate the design of offers of more sustainable activities aimed at this public which contribute to the development of an efficient tourism model to preserve the environment. The research has been carried out by analyzing the data obtained from the travel file of the Resident Tourism Survey of the National Statistical Institute for 2019. The profile of the trekking tourist in Spain is Spanish, married, lives as a couple, and very well educated. Participants are usually busy and use their car, other private vehicles, or destination-provided transportation. They tend to stay in the homes of family, friends, or their employer on their trips. This information is relevant for the design of sustainable tourism products since by knowing the priorities of this profile of tourists, more sustainable activities can be elaborated and better development and protection of the environment can be achieved.
Entrepreneurial Strategies to Address Rural-Urban Climate-Induced Vulnerabilities: Assessing Adaptation and Innovation Measures in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Miklian Jason , Hoelscher Kristian
Published: November 2020

Climate change amplifies social, political, economic, infrastructural and environmental challenges in many Global South cities, and perhaps no city is more vulnerable than Bangladesh’s capital of Dhaka. Climate-induced rural–urban migration is a profound concern, and Dhaka’s political leaders have embraced technology-based innovation as one solution pathway. This article explores the societal impact of Dhaka’s innovation environment strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Employing a case study qualitative methodology, our three findings expand knowledge about innovation for urban climate adaptation and mitigation as understood by Dhaka-based entrepreneurs. First, the most effective innovations were not the most technologically advanced, but those with the highest degree of participant ownership. Second, gaps between recipient, corporate and governmental understandings of effective mitigation and adaptation harmed projects were driven by different definitions of risk and competing understandings of vulnerability. Third, even the most technical climate adaptation measures were inherently political in their application. We discuss how to better position urban climate innovation infrastructures in Bangladesh and beyond, including developing a better recognition of innovation lifecycles for urban climate adaptation and widening our definitions of “innovation” to better incorporate more effective and inclusive climate adaptation solutions.
Does the Environmental Kuznets Curve Exist? An International Study
Authors: Maneejuk Nutnaree , Ratchakom Sutthipat , Maneejuk Paravee , Yamaka Woraphon
Published: November 2020

This study aims to examine the relationship between economic development and environmental degradation based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. The level of CO2 emissions is used as the indicator of environmental damage to determine whether or not greater economic growth can lower environmental degradation under the EKC hypothesis. The investigation was performed on eight major international economic communities covering 44 countries across the world. The relationship between economic growth and environmental condition was estimated using the kink regression model, which identifies the turning point of the change in the relationship. The findings indicate that the EKC hypothesis is valid in only three out of the eight international economic communities, namely the European Union (EU), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and Group of Seven (G7). In addition, interesting results were obtained from the inclusion of four other control variables into the estimation model for groups of countries to explain the impact on environmental quality. Financial development (FIN), the industrial sector (IND), and urbanization (URB) were found to lead to increasing CO2 emissions, while renewable energies (RNE) appeared to reduce the environmental degradation. In addition, when we further investigated the existence of the EKC hypothesis in an individual country, the results showed that the EKC hypothesis is valid in only 9 out of the 44 individual countries.
HLNet: A Unified Framework for Real-Time Segmentation and Facial Skin Tones Evaluation
Authors: Feng Xinglong , Gao Xianwen , Luo Ling
Published: November 2020

Real-time semantic segmentation plays a crucial role in industrial applications, such as autonomous driving, the beauty industry, and so on. It is a challenging problem to balance the relationship between speed and segmentation performance. To address such a complex task, this paper introduces an efficient convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture named HLNet for devices with limited resources. Based on high-quality design modules, HLNet better integrates high-dimensional and low-dimensional information while obtaining sufficient receptive fields, which achieves remarkable results on three benchmark datasets. To our knowledge, the accuracy of skin tone classification is usually unsatisfactory due to the influence of external environmental factors such as illumination and background impurities. Therefore, we use HLNet to obtain accurate face regions, and further use color moment algorithm to extract its color features. Specifically, for a 224×224 input, using our HLNet, we achieve 78.39% mean IoU on Figaro1k dataset at over 17 FPS in the case of the CPU environment. We further use the masked color moment for skin tone grade evaluation and approximate 80% classification accuracy demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method.
Multiquadrics without the Shape Parameter for Solving Partial Differential Equations
Authors: Ku Cheng-Yu , Liu Chih-Yu , Xiao Jing-En , Hsu Shih-Meng
Published: November 2020

In this article, we present multiquadric radial basis functions (RBFs), including multiquadric (MQ) and inverse multiquadric (IMQ) functions, without the shape parameter for solving partial differential equations using the fictitious source collocation scheme. Different from the conventional collocation method that assigns the RBF at each center point coinciding with an interior point, we separated the center points from the interior points, in which the center points were regarded as the fictitious sources collocated outside the domain. The interior, boundary, and source points were therefore collocated within, on, and outside the domain, respectively. Since the radial distance between the interior point and the source point was always greater than zero, the MQ and IMQ RBFs and their derivatives in the governing equation were smooth and globally infinitely differentiable. Accordingly, the shape parameter was no longer required in the MQ and IMQ RBFs. Numerical examples with the domain in symmetry and asymmetry are presented to verify the accuracy and robustness of the proposed method. The results demonstrated that the proposed method using MQ RBFs without the shape parameter acquires more accurate results than the conventional RBF collocation method with the optimum shape parameter. Additionally, it was found that the locations of the fictitious sources were not sensitive to the accuracy.
Hepatotoxicity of Two Progoitrin-Derived Nitriles in New Zealand White Rabbits
Authors: Collett Mark Grey , Matthews Zoe Maree , Parton Kathleen Henry
Published: November 2020

Cattle occasionally develop brassica-associated liver disease (BALD) and photosensitisation when grazing turnip or swede (Brassica spp.) forage crops. The liver toxin in these brassica varieties has yet to be discovered. Progoitrin is the dominant glucosinolate in incriminated crops. Apart from goitrin, progoitrin hydrolysis yields the nitrile, 1-cyano-2-hydroxy-3-butene (CHB), and the epithionitrile, 1-cyano-2-hydroxy-3,4-epithiobutane (CHEB). The two compounds were custom-synthesised. In a small pilot trial, New Zealand White rabbits were given either CHB or CHEB by gavage. Single doses of 0.75 mmol/kg of CHB or 0.25 mmol/kg of CHEB were subtoxic and elicited subclinical effects. Higher doses were severely hepatotoxic, causing periportal to massive hepatic necrosis associated with markedly elevated serum liver biomarkers often resulting in severe illness or death within 24 h. The possibility that one or both of these hepatotoxic nitriles causes BALD in cattle requires further investigation.
Estimating Typhoon-Induced Sea Surface Cooling Based upon Satellite Observations
Authors: Song Dan , Xiang Lulu , Guo Linghui , Li Bo
Published: November 2020

Typhoons frequently occur in the summer in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, and the responses of the upper ocean to typhoons have drawn extensive attention for decades. In the present work, a modified grid-based maximum response (GMR) method was proposed to estimate the sea surface cooling (SSC) caused by typhoons. The current algorithm (CA) is different from the original GMR method mainly in two aspects: (1) it uses a 5 day average rather than a 2 day average of the sea surface temperature (SST) before the typhoon as the reference temperature; (2) it modifies the fixed radius of 400 km to the level-7 Beaufort scale wind-force (~17.1 m/s) radius to determine the area where the SSC should be calculated. Then the MW-IR OISST data derived from satellite observations were used to compare the SSC estimated by different algorithms in four typhoon cases, Megi, LionRock, Trami and KongRey. The results show that, in all cases, maximum response methods have approached similar results, while the others seemed to have underestimated the SSC in degrees. In the slow-moving LionRock case, grid-based methods were found to have better performance, while in the successive typhoon cases, Trami and KongRey, CA showed an improved result in representing the pre-existing sea surface status before the typhoon KongRey by using the pentad mean SST as the reference temperature. In addition, the use of level-7 wind-force coverage made the results much livelier. In a word, the algorithm proposed here is valid in general. It has advantages in estimating the SSC caused by both slow-moving typhoons and successive typhoons, and should be further applied to related research.
Comparison of Manganese Dioxide and Permanganate as Amendments with Persulfate for Aqueous 1,4-Dioxane Oxidation
Authors: Bridges Logan , Mohamed Ruba A. M. , Khan Naima A. , Brusseau Mark L. , Carroll Kenneth C.
Published: November 2020

Persulfate (PS) is widely used to degrade emerging organic contaminants in groundwater and soil systems, and various PS activation methods (e.g., energy or chemical inputs) have been considered to increase oxidation strength. This study investigates PS activation through manganese amendment in the form of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) and manganese dioxide (MnO2) to subsequently degrade the emerging and recalcitrant groundwater contaminant 1,4-dioxane (1,4-D). The activation of PS by MnO2 was confirmed by radical trap and by product formation. The degradation kinetics of 1,4-D by PS was also compared with varying amendments of KMnO4 and MnO2. The results showed that MnO2 activated PS, which increased the degradation rate constant of 1,4-D. KMnO4 activation of PS was not observed even though the binary oxidant mixture did enhance the degradation of 1,4-D. These results have implications for applying in situ chemical oxidation in subsurface systems, especially for conditions wherein manganese exists naturally in groundwater or aquifer minerals to support possible PS activation.
Spatial and Temporal Evaluation of the Latest High-Resolution Precipitation Products over the Upper Blue Nile River Basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Abebe Sintayehu A. , Qin Tianling , Yan Denghua , Gelaw Endalkachew B. , Workneh Habtamu T. , Kun Wang , Liu Shanshan , Dong Biqiong
Published: November 2020

Quality and representative precipitation data play an essential role in hydro-meteorological analyses. However, the required reliability and coverage is often unavailable from conventional gauge observations. As a result, globally available precipitation datasets are being used as an alternative or supplementary to gauge observations. In this study, the accuracy of three recently released, high-resolution precipitation datasets with a spatial resolution of 0.1° and a daily temporal resolution is evaluated over the Upper Blue Nile River Basin (UBNRB) for the period of 2007 to 2016. The datasets are Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM version 6 (IMERG6), Multi-Source Weighted-Ensemble Precipitation version 2.2 (MSWEP2.2) and soil moisture to rain using Advanced SCATterometer version 1.1 (SM2RAIN-ASCAT1.1). The comparison was made between rain gauge observations and two other high-resolution precipitation datasets named Enhancing National Climate Services (ENACTS) and Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Stations version 2 (CHIRPS2). The modified Kling-Gupta efficiency (KGE’) and four categorical indices named probability of detection (POD), false alarm ratio (FAR), critical success index (CSI), and frequency bias (fBIAS) was used to measure the skills of each dataset. Results revealed that, except SM2RAIN-ASCAT1.1, all other datasets show a better ability on a monthly time scale for areas with an elevation below 1500 m above sea level (m.a.s.l). The overall performance was better in the wetter months of March to August than the drier months of September to February. Besides, all products including SM2RAIN-ASCAT1.1 could detect no rain events (rain < 1 mm) correctly, but their skill deteriorates on identifying higher intensity events. By comparison, ENACTS (calibrated with most quality gauges of Ethiopia) and CHIRPS2 exhibited the best performance due to their high-resolution nature and inclusion of physiographic information in their data generation procedures. IMERG6 and MSWEP2.2 showed the next best performance according to both the continuous and categorical indices used. SM2RAIN-ASCAT1.1 demonstrates the least skill everywhere due to problems that could be associated with misinterpretations of soil moisture signals by the SM2RAIN algorithm. Considering the scarcity of gauged datasets over UBNRB, IMERG6 and MSWEP2.2 could be regarded as valuable datasets for hydro-climatic analysis, mainly where gauge density is low. SM2RAIN-ASCAT1.1, on the other hand, needs significant bias correction to treat its apparent wet biases before any application.
Belize: unknown notoriety
Authors:   Saint Petersburg State University, Fadeeva Alina Vitalievna
Published: November 2020

Today, in the conditions of the current foreign policy situation in Latin America and Central America, it has a special strategic value for Russia. The implementation of projects aimed at strengthening Russia’s position, as well as the degree of its political and economic presence in the international arena, necessitates the study of cooperation with potential partners. This study explores the case of Russian-Belize relations in detail.
Oksana Pushkina: TV presenter, public and statesman
Authors:   Saint Petersburg State University, Kozlova Maria Alekseevna
Published: November 2020

Despite the multifaceted study of television journalism "perestroika", researchers have not paid much attention to deep analysis of the creative development of Oksana Pushkina as a journalist. Bridging this scientific gap is important for modern television journalism, because the main emphasis in the works is on the well-known program "Women's View with Oksana Pushkina", but its materials have not been considered for the most part until that time. We see only the flowering of the work of a journalist, and for the younger generation of this profession it is important to trace the path of its formation in the conditions of gradual publicity of the media in Russia.
Coverage of Russian foreign policy in the Costa Rican media
Authors:   Saint Petersburg State University, Filippova Khristina Nikolaevna
Published: November 2020

The article presents the results of the research of media image of Russia in Costa Rican media. This paper is devoted to the study of the media system of the Republic of Costa Rica, as well as the nature of the coverage of Russian foreign policy in the materials of Costa Rican media. The content analysis of the largest media in Costa Rica was used as the main research method. The results of the study may be of interest to specialists in the field of international relations, journalism, communication and PR.
ADAPTATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MILK PRODUCERS IN THE NEW ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
Authors: СУРОВЦЕВ В.Н. , ПАЮРОВА Е.Н.
Published: November 2020

Проанализированы проблемы на рынке молока и молочных продуктов России в условиях глобального экономического кризиса: перепроизводство молока в основных странах-экспортерах, снижение закупочных цен на сырое молоко, снижение цен на биржевые товары в мире и России в 2020 году, тренд на уменьшение спроса на молочные продукты на мировом рынке в среднесрочном периоде, снижение общего спроса на молочные продукты на внутрироссийском рынке при падении реальных доходов населения, изменение структуры потребления. Проведена оценка новых возможностей и угроз для развития отрасли: со стороны потребителей — рост цен на продовольствие, снижение доходов; с позиции производителей молока — снижение закупочных цен, рост требований к сырью для производства продукции с увеличенными сроками годности, дефицит рабочей силы, вероятное сокращение господдержки в результате снижения цен на углеводороды, попытки регулирования цен; со стороны перерабатывающих предприятий — сокращение спроса, снижение цен на готовую продукцию вслед за мировыми ценами. Обоснованы приоритеты инвестирования в молочном скотоводстве и основные формы совершенствования государственной поддержки отрасли, обеспечивающие эффективную адаптацию производителей молока к новым экономическим условиям, повышение устойчивости отрасли при усилении макроэкономических рисков.

The article analyzes the problems in the Russian milk and dairy products market in the context of the global economic crisis: overproduction of milk in the main exporting countries, lower purchase prices for raw milk, lower prices for commodities in the world and in Russia in 2020, trend to reduce demand for dairy products on the world market in medium term, a decrease in total demand for dairy products in the Russian market with a decrease in the purchasing power of the population, a change in the structure of consumption. An assessment of new opportunities and threats to the development of the industry was carried out: on the part of consumers — rising food prices, lower incomes; from the perspective of dairy producers — reduction in purchase prices, increased requirements for raw materials for the production of products with extended periods, labor shortages, the likely reduction in state support as a result of lower prices for hydrocarbons, attempts to regulate prices; on the part of processing enterprises — reduction of demand, reduction of prices for finished goods following world prices. The investment priorities in dairy cattle breeding and the main forms of improving state support for the industry, ensuring the effective adaptation of milk producers to new economic conditions, increasing the sustainability of the industry with increasing macroeconomic risks, are substantiated.
Changes in the phytosanitary conditions in case of oil flax growing using microbial preparations
Authors:   Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea, Gongalo A.A. , Turin E.N. ,   Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea, Zhenchenko K.G. ,   Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea, Ivanov V.Yu. ,   Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea, Melnichuk T.N. ,   Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea
Published: November 2020

Over three years of research, the number of weeds per 1 m2 in the direct seeding (DS) variant was 19 pcs. more. At the initial stage of the oil flax development, which was cultivated under conventional technology, the number of unwanted plants in the variant without inoculation was, on average, 32 pcs./m2; with complex microbial preparation (CMP) treatment – 31.5 pcs./m2. In the context of DS technology, there were 51 pcs./m2 in the variant with inoculation; 50 pcs./m2 – without CMP treatment. The increase in the weed component under DS is due to better moisture and nutrients availability. In the experimental plots with and without inoculation, the difference in the variants cannot be proved from the mathematical point of view. Before harvesting, as a result of the herbicidal treatment, the difference between the technologies levelled. The total number of weeds per 1 m2 under conventional technology with the application of CMP was 24 pcs./m2, its average weight – 34.6 g/m2; in the variant without CMP application – 22.4 pcs./m2 and 34 g/m2, respectively. Under DS, with CMP – 21.3 pcs./m2 and 41.2 g/m2; without CMP treatment – 21 pcs./m2 and 41 g/m2. Furthermore, the species composition of weeds did not differ depending on the cultivation technology. Their number, yet, was greater under DS in the stage of full emergence. In the full ripeness stage, the amount of the weed component decreased. At the time of harvesting, it caused no significant effect on the yield neither under DS nor conventional technology regardless of the CMP treatment. However, the weight of dry weeds was higher under DS, on average, by 7 g/m2 per three years.
Promising entomopathogenic strain of Bacillus thuringiensis 0428 effective against the Colorado beetle
Authors:   Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea, Kryzhko A.V. , Kuznetsova L.N. ,   Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea, Shirma A.V. ,   Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea
Published: November 2020

Most of the world produced biopesticides are made by entomopathogenic bacteria B. thuringiensis. So, searching for new strains of it is always necessary. In 2006, the strain B. thuringiensis 0428 was isolated from the caterpillar of the ringed silkworm. The strain 0428 is entomopathogenic against Colorado beetle larvae. The effectiveness of the strain for 5 days was 100%. On beef-extract agar this Gram-positive bacterium formed round or irregular colonies with an average diameter of 6-10 mm. The relief of the colonies is flat; the surface is matte. Colonies of B. thuringiensis 0428 are fast-growing, appearing on the surface of the beef-extract agar on the second or third day at 26-30ºC. The average cell size is 6.48±0.16 (large diameter) and 2.62±0.06 (small diameter) microns. The study of the physiological and biochemical properties of the isolated strain shown that B. thuringiensis 0428 is able to form acetyl-methyl-carbinol and lecithinase. B. thuringiensis 0428 is not able to form ureases or pigments, as well as to use citrates and galactose. But it is able to use sucrose, glucose, mannose, and salicin as a source of carbon. The strain 0428 has proteolytic activity. The strain is capable of synthesizing an insecticidal crystalline protein Cry1A and β-exotoxin. All these characteristics allow us to identify the isolated entomopathogenic strain 0428 as B. thuringiensis var. thuringiensis.
Yield of spring wheat due to lipid peroxidation under the influence of Bacillus oligonitrophilus bacterization
Authors:   Kazan State Agrarian University, Pakhomova V.M. , Daminova A.I. ,   Kazan State Agrarian University, Kozhevnikov A.Yu. ,   Kazan State Agrarian University, Galiyakhmetov I.V. ,   Kazan State Agrarian University
Published: November 2020

The purpose of the article was to study the resistance of spring wheat under the influence of foliar treatment of plants with silicate bacteria according to lipid peroxidation (LP) and yield. The studies were conducted on spring wheat (variety ‘MiS’). The cultivation technology is typical wheat in this agroclimatic zone. The foliar treatment was carried out with a culture of bacteria Bacillus oligonitrophilus by spraying at the rate of 0.5 l/m2 of bacteria suspension containing 109 cells/ml (equally to 100% concentration). Field experiment design: option 1 – plants without treatment (control); option 2 – treatment with B. oligonitrophilus fertilizers at the stage of tillering; option 3 – treatment with B. oligonitrophilus fertilizers at the stage of tillering/stem elongation; option 4 – treatment with B. oligonitrophilus at the stage of tillering/stem elongation/heading. The activity of LP in wheat leaves was identified according to the content of malondialdehyde (MDA). The content of MDA was determined photometrically during interaction with thiobarbiturate. Wheat yield increase was observed in options 3 and 4 (by 11 and 15%, respectively). The content of MDA decreased in all phases of wheat vegetation in the same experimental options (by 14 and 21%, respectively), which indicated the antioxidant effect of the studied preparation. Thus, the bacterization of wheat with B. oligonitrophilus leads to the plant resistance increase. The protective effect is probably due to the action of a complex of their biologically active substances (metabolites) including the antioxidant mechanism of action.