bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Simplified” Cracking Tests: Evaluation of the IDEAL-CT Performed Using a Marshall Testing Platform
Authors: Castillo-Camarena Elvis A. , Hall Kevin D.
Published: March 2021

In considering the implementation of a cracking test for asphalt mixes, attention should be given to both the accuracy and the practical implications of equipment cost and ease of use. This study evaluated the applicability of the indirect tensile asphalt cracking test (IDEAL-CT) performed using a Marshall frame with an in-house-assembled data acquisition instrumentation, compared with the Illinois flexibility index test (I-FIT) protocol using a modern asphalt materials performance test (AMPT). Both flexibility index (FI) and cracking resistance index (CRI) values were obtained from the I-FIT tests. Mixes representing five in-service pavements exhibiting different levels of cracking performance are included. Despite an unstable (and out of specification) loading rate on the Marshall testing frame, IDEAL-CT test results compared favorably with those of the I-FIT performed on the AMPT. The CTIndex exhibited less variability than the FI but more variability than the CRI. The CTIndex appears to discriminate cracking-related behavior in a manner consistent with the FI and CRI. This study indicates the potential for using the IDEAL-CT on a Marshall frame—offering laboratories potentially significant savings in both equipment and specimen preparation costs.
Bainite Percentage Determination and Effect of Bainite Percentage on Mechanical Properties in Austempered AISI 5160 Steel
Authors: Yang Mei , Sousa Bryer , Smith Richard , Sabarou Hooman , Cote Danielle , Zhong Yu , Sisson Richard D.
Published: March 2021

X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis with Rietveld refinement was used to determine the percentage of each microstructural constituent in AISI 5160 steel parts, which were austempered at 315°C for 1 minute, 2 min, 5 min, 30 min, and 90 min, separately. Nanoindentation was also conducted to quantify the concentration of bainite to compare with the XRD results. Thus, the bainitic transformation kinetics for AISI 5160 was determined for the selected austempering temperature. The mechanical properties of these parts were also tested to investigate their correlation to the bainite percentage. The results show that the tensile properties, including the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation, increase with the austempering holding time at the selected austempering temperature, which corresponds to the bainite percentage increase. And in the same vein, hardness (both macro- and micro-hardness) decreases with austempering holding time, which corresponds to the martensite percentage decrease.
Prediction of Flow Stress and Forming Limits for IN625 at Elevated Temperature Using the Theoretical and Neural Network Approach
Authors: Morchhale Ayush , Kotkunde Nitin , Singh Swadesh Kumar
Published: March 2021

In the present work, the prediction of flow stress for IN625 has been done using two of the latest constitutive models, namely, modified Arrhenius (m-A) and combined Johnson-Cook and Zerilli-Armstrong (JC-ZA), and also by an artificial neural network (ANN) at 300, 473, 673, 873, and 973 K. On comparing the predictive efficiency of flow stress using constitutive models, the m-A model displayed better statistical parameters. It includes the effect of activation energy, temperature, and strain rate while predicting the flow stress, which are the most critical parameters while working at elevated temperature. The ANN approach helped predict the best flow stress results with the least average absolute error (AAE) of 0.93 % and the highest correlation coefficient (R) of 0.992. Further, the Barlat 1989 yielding function best predicted the yield loci among the Hill 1948 and Barlat 1989 criteria. The experimental stretch forming test has been conducted, and the forming limits improved by approximately 30.25 % as the temperature increased from 300 to 973 K. Additionally, the theoretical model, namely, Marciniak–Kuczyński (MK) model, has been used by inducing the combined effect of the constitutive model and yielding function for predicting the forming limits. The m-A constitutive model, in combination with Barlat 1989 yielding function, best predicted the forming limit curve. The ANN method has also been used after rigorously training the neural network, and it displayed the least AAE while predicting the forming limits. Thus, the neural network technique can be used as a modern tool to predict results involving extreme virtual experimental conditions.
The Rodrik Trilemma and the Dahrendorf Quandary: An Empirical Assessment
Authors: Anheier Helmut , Filip Alexandru
Published: March 2021

Rodrik’s Trilemma rests on the incompatibility of democracy, national sovereignty, and global economic integration: any two can be combined, but never all three simultaneously and in full. Addressing the same problèmatique but from a different perspective, Dahrendorf’s Quandary posits that, over time, maintaining global economic competitiveness requires countries either to adopt measures detrimental to the cohesion of civil society or to restrict civil liberties and political participation. The purpose of this article is to examine the empirical foundations of Rodrik’s and Dahrendorf’s propositions.

When one assesses developed market economies from 1991 to 2014, evidence suggests that only in rare cases can the Trilemma be overcome, and the tensions the Quandary hypothesizes build up to a significant extent. In most cases examined, however, the performance of the countries is too varied to support the broad claims Rodrik and Dahrendorf put forth in their respective writings. Specifically, next to the small group of five cases where either the Trilemma or the Quandary apply, there are twice as many countries that generally managed to grow moderately in terms of economic globalization, liberal democracy, and social cohesion while avoiding some of the tensions implied in the Quandary or reaching Trilemma conditions. For an even larger group of countries, the evidence suggests that growing economic globalization can coexist with lower societal stressor levels.
A service evaluation of the impact of adoption of JBDS guidelines for the management of glucose during labour and birth in women with diabetes
Authors: Dashora Umesh , Ahmed Suhail , Bossman Irene , Aung Ko Ko , Castro Erwin , Sathiskumar Pariasamy
Published: March 2021

Aims: The aim of this retrospective observational study was to report on the impact of adopting the Joint British Diabetes Society for Inpatients (JBDS-IP) guidelines on the achievement of targets recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the maternal and neonatal outcomes.Methods: We analysed case records of pregnant women with diabetes who delivered in the period between November 2017 and October 2018 from our data base ‘Euroking’ (Wellbeing Software Ltd, Mansfield). Data were collected in relation to the availability of a dedicated prescription chart in the notes, capillary blood glucose (CBG) monitoring, use of variable rate intravenous insulin infusion (VRIII), maintenance of CBG targets within 4.0–7.0 mmol/L, maternal hypoglycaemia during labour when on VRIII and neonatal hypoglycaemia.Results: Sixty women with diabetes in our database delivered during this period. Thirty-six (60%) were monitored with hourly CBG monitoring and 30 (50%) achieved CBG levels within the NICE recommended target range. Only five women (8.3%) were started on VRIII. There was no maternal hypoglycaemia in the VRIII group. One baby (1.7%) developed mild neonatal hypoglycaemia.Conclusion: Adoption of JBDS guidelines contributed to 60% of women with diabetes receiving complete CBG monitoring, of whom 70% achieved the NICE recommended target of 4.0–7.0 mmol/L during labour and birth. Repeat CBG measurements before starting VRIII, strict adherence to clear JBDS guidelines and protocols, daily review by the diabetes team during the working week and appropriate use of VRIII was associated with good maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Zapożyczenia niemieckie w XIX-wiecznym Dykcjonarzu Michała Amszejewicza (przyczynek do badań nad słownictwem obcego pochodzenia w polszczyźnie)
Authors:   Akademia im. Jakuba z Paradyża w Gorzowie Wielkopolskim, Skorupska-Raczyńska Elżbieta
Published: March 2021

Michał Amszejewicz in Dykcjonarz, which was a record of vocabulary of foreign origin used in the Polish language in the middle of the 19th century, recorded more than eight hundred lexical units (838 in 633 entries, which comprise 511 monosemes and 122 polysemes with two or more meanings) present in the lexis as a result of interference between the Polish and the German languages. Their functional allocation is diversified, with specialist lexis being dominant. Analysed vocabulary in the middle of the 19th century was functionally allocated to various areas of activity, firstly to crafts – 155 lexical units (18.5%), next to military and its organisation – 93 lexical units (11.1%), merchant’s profession and its specifics, commercial and financial aspects – 72 lexical units (8.6%). The remaining 518 lexical units (61.8%) are scattered in the lexicon of another several dozens of specialties, such as rafting, mining, metallurgy, forestry, meteorology, gardening, fine arts and others. Until the beginning of the 21st century, out of 838 analysed lexical units a diversified life cycle was preserved by 321 (38.3%), and 517 (61.7%) were transferred to linguistic archives of the Polish Language. In analysed vocabulary of German origin, actively used in the most recent Polish Language, biased lexis is dominant – in terms of terminology and style; less frequently these are words with a neutral character, regarded as basic vocabulary. Analysed Germanisms have also undergone semantic changes, i.e. specialisation, generalisation, metaphorisation and partial transformations. Germanisms in the Polish Language of the 19th century are a cultural and linguistic fact, which is characterised by certain specific conditions, also in terms of the time of their use and functionality, which has been emphasised on numerous occasions by their researcher – Bogusław Nowowiejski.
Zapożyczenia leksykalne z języków romańskich w polskiej publicystyce ekonomicznej drugiej połowy XIX wieku
Authors:   Uniwersytet w Białymstoku, Szczepankowska Irena
Published: March 2021

Attention was focused on 19th century economic terms of Romance origin, used in the Polish press dedicated to economic matters. These are mainly names acquired from French (also via German), popularised in the 19th century, or words previously borrowed from Latin, but gaining new economic references under the influence of associated and similar Gallicisms. A less abundant, but noticeable layer of Romanisms in economic journalism, are loanwords from Italian, which are internationalisms, mainly preserved, also in the borrowing languages, in their original form. Polonised Italianisms were first assimilated in French (sometimes also in German). This article analyses assimilation methods of foreign common names, such as: phonetic, spelling and inflectional adaptation, replication of foreign morphological and phraseological structures using native formative elements, semantic specialisation of certain names of Latin origin under the influence of related French or Italian lexemes.
Prediction of Compressive Strengths for Rice Husks Ash incorporated concrete, Using Neural Network and Reviews
Authors: Ngandu Cornelius Ngunjiri
Published: March 2021

Modelling of concrete that incorporates agricultural wastes such as rice husk ash (RHA) could potentially enhance utilization of green concrete and application of sustainable construction materials. This paper evaluations compressive strength prediction for rice husk ash (RHA) cementitious material incorporated concrete using artificial neural networks (ANNs) one of the various prediction methods.  The research is based on various previous experimental studies.Literature reviews of 72 datasets for RHA incorporated concrete from 15 previous researches, were used and subjected to ANNs models, having learning rate of 0.06 with tanh activation functions. Four(4) input variables were considered, namely:- superplasticizer or water reducers variation from control (%), water to binder ratio, percentage of RHA and control compressive strengths. Output variable was compressive strength of RHA cementitious material incorporated concrete. The ANN with 15 neurons in the hidden layer was selected and indicated overall values of 5.10MPa, 0.99, 3.81MPa and 9.73% for the root mean square error (RMSE), absolute factor of variance (R2), mean absolute error (MAE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) respectively and for individual training, validation/checking and testing datasets, the RMSE, R2, MAE and MAPE ranging between 3.98MPa-6.56MPa, 0.98-0.99, 3.44MPa-4.94MPa and 9.19%-12.41% respectively. Generally, both predicted and original dataset, indicated higher and lower strength values for 5-10% and 15-30% RHA incorporated cementitious material concrete respectively compared to the control strengths.Considering that the study utilized data from different sources and with a wide range of concrete strengths the selected ANN showed relatively good performance. The study provides an indicator that machine learning techniques could accurately predict green concrete strength. Based on model performance the percentage RHA cementitious materials in concrete and the other 3 input variable had a significant impact on concrete strengths. Future research should be conducted to predict green concrete focused on particular concrete class.
Vom New Competition Tool zum Digital Markets Act: Die geplante EU-Regulierung für digitale Gatekeeper
Authors: Zimmer Daniel , Göhsl Jan-Frederick
Published: March 2021

Der im Dezember 2020 von der EU-Kommission vorgestellte Entwurf eines Digital Markets Act (kurz: DMA-E) enthält, anstelle des im Sommer 2020 noch angekündigten „New Competition Tool“, überwiegend Regelungen für digitale Gatekeeper und steht – für einige sicher überraschend – komplementär zum europäischen Wettbewerbsrecht. Die Kommission betritt sowohl mit der Anknüpfung an den bisher (im rechtstechnischen Sinne) unbekannten Begriff des Gatekeepers als auch mit der Einführung einer Ex-ante-Regulierung regelungstechnisch Neuland. Der vorliegende Beitrag nimmt eine erste grundsätzliche Einordnung des DMA-E vor und zeigt die wichtigsten Details der Regelungsinhalte auf. Die konkrete inhaltliche Ausgestaltung des DMA-E hängt eng mit der von der Kommission gewählten Rechtsgrundlage des DMA-E zusammen. Es wird gezeigt, dass der Erlass des vorgeschlagenen DMA zwar grundsätzlich ein Schritt in die richtige Richtung wäre, aber der noch bevorstehende Normgebungsprozess für Verbesserungen genutzt werden sollte. Außerdem wird untersucht, welche Elemente des ursprünglich geplanten „New Competition Tool“ ihren Weg in den DMA-E gefunden haben. Die Kommission könnte durch den DMA-E mittelbar sowohl im Hinblick auf die Fusionskontrolle als auch durch die Befugnis zum Erlass delegierter Rechtsakte eine nicht unerhebliche Erweiterung ihres Handlungsspielraums erfahren.
Structural color for wood coloring: A review
Authors: Hu Jing , Liu Yi , Wu Zhihui
Published: March 2021

The color, texture, and natural defects of wood are important factors affecting its commercial value. Change of wood’s surface color is a primary way to improve its value. This study analyzes and summarizes the development status and existing problems of the traditional wood dyeing process and induced discoloration process. It is proposed that color improvement with photonic crystal structure color is a clean and pollution-free ecological biomimetic coloring technology. Its research status in the fields of fiber, fabric, wood, wood-based panel surface color improvement, new coatings for wood, and lignocellulose nanocrystalline structure color film are reviewed. The following aspects were studied: 1) construction and mechanistic study of the wood surface structure color film, 2) light response and interface mechanistic study of the wood surface structure color film, 3) large-scale application technology study of the wood surface biomimetic structure color film, and 4) preparation and functional development of structural color films of lignocellulose nanocrystal.
Características metodológicas en el estudio del compromiso hacia la práctica de actividad física y ejercicio en población general: una revisión sistemática
Authors: Zapata Lamana Rafael , Fuentes Figueroa Victor , Reyes Molina Daniel , Geisse Zárate Alex Emmanuelle , Cigarroa Igor
Published: March 2021

Aunque la literatura sobre el compromiso deportivo en población deportista es extensa, se requiere profundizar sobre el compromiso hacia la práctica de actividad y ejercicio físicos en la población general. El objetivo del estudio fue sintetizar las características metodológicas de los artículos que han estudiado el compromiso hacia la práctica de actividad y ejercicio físicos en la población general. Se desarrolló una revisión sistemática siguiendo la declaración PRISMA. Se realizaron búsquedas electrónicas en las bases de datos PsycINFO y Medline desde 2009 al 2019. Un total de 14 artículos fueron elegidos, principalmente con diseños transversales. La población más estudiada fue de estudiantes universitarias mujeres, sin condición clínica. Todos los instrumentos utilizados para evaluar el compromiso hacia la actividad física y ejercicio estaban escritos en inglés, en su mayoría aplicados en Estados Unidos. Utilizaban una escala Likert con alta fiabilidad. Las principales variables asociadas a la evaluación del compromiso fueron la edad, género, origen étnico, nivel educativo y económico, nivel de actividad física, comportamiento, patologías alimentarias e índice de masa corporal y variables sociocognitivas, como autoeficacia, apoyo social, barreras y beneficios percibidos para la realización de la actividad física. Esta revisión entrega un perfil de la población en quien se evalúa el compromiso hacia la actividad física y ejercicio, los instrumentos utilizados y variables asociadas, lo que actualiza el conocimiento existente sobre el compromiso hacia la actividad física y ejercicio en la población general.
IMPACT OF EXPERIMENTAL TEACHING METHOD “LANGUAGE THROUGH SPORT” ON MOTIVATIONAL STRATEGIES OF WEIGHTLIFTING SPECIALISTS
Authors: Mileva E. , Slavova V. , Yankova N. , Panayotov V.
Published: March 2021

Recently, there have been outlined some problems in the motivated participation of students in the educational process. These ones presuppose the optimization of traditional teaching methods and the application of new methods, techniques and approaches in the learning process. The necessity of introducing a new-invented educational model for students’ training at NSA "Vasil Levski", combining the foreign language teaching and their sports training is imposed by the need to improve the existing educational practice both in sport practice and in foreign language learning. The new-invented teaching method "Language through sport" for weightlifting and power lifting specialists has not been developed so far in this specific educational context. The experimental teaching method has been elaborated and applied by simultaneous implementation of foreign language learning of standardized international terms in the field of weightlifting and power lifting in students’ training sessions. The study of the impact of new-invented method "Language through Sport" on students’ motivation is a reliable indicator of the efficacy of this training and teaching method in sports pedagogical practice, not only in weightlifting and power lifting but also in other sports disciplines.
NUTRITIONAL HABITS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF STUDENTS
Authors: Petkov Plamen
Published: March 2021

A survey of 176 students (women) in the first and second course of all specialties from the Faculties of Economics, Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at Trakia University, Stara Zagora, was conducted. The aim of the study was to identify the food habits and the physical activity of the students. Theoretical analysis, questionnaire, graphical analysis, comparative analysis of relative shares and alternative analysis were applied to achieve this goal. Anonymous survey was conducted to collect quantitative information on the eating habits and physical activity of students from Trakia University. The questionnaire included 22 questions. Analysis of the results displayed that students do not eat healthily due to lack of time, spend most of the day sitting and have insufficient motor activity. The survey data led to the assumption that the students’ awareness of the benefits of healthy eating and increasing their physical activity has to be increased.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MODELS FOR ATTITUDINAL AND PERSUASION CHANGES IN CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR
Authors: Spasova Lyubomira , Gundasheva Zhenya
Published: March 2021

The present study explores psychological models for changing consumers’ attitudes under the influence of advertisements in young people of 18 to 25 years of age. The aim of the study is to establish the influence of the advertisements of mobile phone operators on the attitudes, consumer thinking and behaviour of youth with respect to mobile products and services. The following tasks were set: • To study the advertisements of mobile phone operators in Bulgaria • To set a theoretical frame on consumers’ attitudes • To determine the models of attitudinal change and persuasion • To perform correlational analyses of statistically significant factors The methods used to achieve these tasks are the following: conducting two subsequent surveys on the same respondents regarding their behavior before, during and after exposure to advertisement; holding individual interviews with random young respondents.
Lamprochernes savignyi (Simon, 1881) (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones) recorded in Central Europe for the first time
Authors: Christophoryová Jana , Gilgado José D. , Bobbitt Ian , Krajčovičová Katarína
Published: March 2021

The pseudoscorpion Lamprochernes savignyi (Simon, 1881) is reported in Central Europe for the first time. The new record from Switzerland is based on a single female specimen found in a compost heap in the Conservatory and Botanical Garden in Geneva. Until now, the species is distributed mainly in Africa, Americas, and Asia, less in Australia and Oceania, Europe, and the Arabian Peninsula. The new record fills in the gap in species distribution between Northern Europe and the Anatolian Peninsula. A description of the collected female is provided.
The Bioarchaeology of Migration in the Ancient Mediterranean
Authors: Leppard Thomas P. , Esposito Carmen , Esposito Massimiliano
Published: March 2021

The Mediterranean is often regarded as characterized by high levels of human mobility and migration, which are in turn considered to have driven large-scale cultural effects. However, this supposition is problematic, in that it relies on various types of proxy for human movement, rather than on direct bioarchaeological evidence. Accordingly, in this study we attempt to quantify diachronic Mediterranean mobility and migration by undertaking the first meta-analysis of the burgeoning radiogenic isotope datasets now available from the Mediterranean. We gathered 87Sr/ 86Sr data derived from funerary populations from the Neolithic to the late Roman period. We imposed a data-hygiene regime, discarding low-quality, methodologically idiosyncratic, or other potentially erroneous data; this resulted in a cleansed and trimmed dataset (n = 899). Within this dataset, we find that mean rates of post-juvenile migration are relatively low. Utilizing the methodologies specific to individual studies, the mean nonlocal rate is 9.57%. Imposing a standard methodology on the most statistically robust data (resulting in n = 702) allows us to recompute a mean nonlocal rate of 5.84%. In both the data as originally reported and as recomputed, we detect comparatively higher levels of migration in the period 7000–3500 BC, followed by decreasing levels of migration in the later Holocene. We discuss the implications of these results for how we understand longterm cultural and behavioral change in the Mediterranean.
Configuração dos atendimentos oncológicos em um município de Minas Gerais, Brasil
Authors:   Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Ribeiro Jefferson Felipe , de Oliveira Rodrigues Dennis , de Oliveira Faria Sheilla , de Souza Terra Fábio , Rezende Dázio Eliza Maria , do Nascimento Murilo César
Published: March 2021

Introdução: O câncer configura-se como um relevante problema de saúde pública mundial e impacta a carga global de doenças. Visto isso, este estudo teve como objetivo geral conhecer a configuração clínica, assistencial e epidemiológica dos atendimentos às pessoas com câncer de um município do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo transversal, descritivo, seguido por abordagem espacial em saúde, realizado com dados de prontuários que integram os registros hospitalares de câncer de um município sul mineiro no período de 2007 a 2017. Para a análise dos dados contou-se com o auxílio dos softwares EpiInfo, TerraView e QGis. Resultados: Foram 1914 pessoas atendidas, com predominância de sexo masculino, idade superior a 60 anos, cor branca, ensino fundamental completo, ocupação doméstica. Oncologia clínica, estadiamento tipo I, doença estável, câncer de pele, adenocarcinoma, cirurgia, quimioterapia e ausência de razão para não tratar despontaram como as variáveis clínico-assistenciais mais frequentes. Constatou-se um aporte expressivo dos registros a partir de 2009 e um decréscimo de casos não-analíticos. Obteve-se 94,7% de geocodificação e verificou-se uma distribuição espacial heterogênea pela área urbana, com conglomerados em diferentes bairros. Conclusão: A configuração clínica-assistencial e epidemiológica dos atendimentos oncológicos proposta foi alcançada. As distribuições temporal, espacial e de frequência dos atendimentos apontam para um incremento substancial na cobertura assistencial de pessoas com câncer tratadas no cenário estudado.
Prevención y control de Covid-19 en Instituciones de Larga Estancia para ancianos
Authors:   Universidade Federal do Piauí-UFPI, Bandeira Felipe Sarah Giulia , Dias Torres Silva Cynthia Roberta , Mesquita de Carvalho Khelyane , Teles de Oliveira Gouveia Marcia , do Livramento Fortes Figueiredo Maria
Published: March 2021

Objetivo: Enumerar las pautas y recomendaciones para la prevención y el control de COVID-19 en instituciones de atención a larga estancia para ancianos. Método: Esta es una carta al editor que resume las principales pautas sobre la prevención y el control de COVID-19 en instituciones de atención a larga estancia para ancianos que se encuentran disponibles en documentos de agencias federales brasileñas. Resultados: Se recomienda en todas las instituciones realizar el diagnóstico situacional, la suspensión de visitas externas, la evaluación multidimensional de los residentes y la adopción de prácticas preventivas de salud como el ejercicio físico y la alimentación saludable con la distancia mínima entre los ancianos. Además, se destacan las medidas individuales, colectivas, ambientales y de higiene de los materiales y alimentos, con vigilancia y detección temprana de signos y síntomas sugestivos de la enfermedad, con el ingreso hospitalario justificado en presencia de signos clínicos de gravedad. Además, se refuerza la importancia de involucrar a los residentes y familiares en la detección de los riesgos de propagación de la enfermedad y en las estrategias de prevención, con el objetivo de optimizar la cultura de seguridad y capacitar a los residentes y miembros de la familia para garantizar una atención segura y de calidad. Conclusión: La difusión de información y directivas seguras es esencial para prevenir la difusión de Covid-19 en instituciones a larga estancia para mantener la salud y el bienestar de los ancianos y sus cuidadores.
Global Climate Change as a National Security Threat: American and Russian Political Practices
Authors:   Security Council of the Russian Federation, Nazarov Vladimir , Afinogenov Dmitry ,   Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
Published: March 2021

Introduction. The article gives an overview of American and Russian approaches to global climate change (GCC) in the context of the national security policy. The purpose of the study is to improve the national security policy in the context of GCC using international and Russian experience. The authors make proposals for refining Russian approaches to the problem including adjustments to the Russian Federation National Security Strategy, development of a number of other strategic planning documents and new initiatives to tackle threats related to GCC on a broad multilateral basis. Methods and methodology. The system analysis methods used in the research enable to reveal general trends in the evolvement of the GCC phenomenon and to predict its growing influence on governments and civil societies. The synthesis methods help to draw general conclusions that are common for the national security policies of all nations, to reveal the complex and interdisciplinary nature of GCC and to propose improvements in the government policies in this area. Analysis. The analysis of American official documents and scientific publications shows the evolution of approaches in assessing the GCC in relation to national security policies, whereas the GCC has been regarded as a threat to U.S. and international security and stability. The authors criticize unilateralism of American official approaches to threats posed by GCC as well as the ineffectiveness of collective attempts to counter these threats. Results. The study concludes that the GCC poses a common threat to humanity and requires collective concerted actions. It is therefore proposed that the long-term national interests be adjusted adding to their list the task of preserving the nature and environment, to clarify the strategic goal-setting in this critical area and to develop a forward-looking model for cooperation between the government, civil society and wildlife.
V International Scientific Conference “Military History of Russia: Problems, Search, Decisions” Devoted to the 75th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War (September 11–12, 2020, Volgograd)
Authors:   Volgograd State University, Sidorov Sergey
Published: March 2021

The article presents information about the V International scientific conference “Military history of Russia: problems, search, solutions” held in Volgograd on September 11–12, 2020, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The conference was held at Volgograd State University. The conference was informative and representative in its composition: more than 220 representatives of scientific institutions of the Russian Academy of Sciences, civil and military universities and centers, archives, museums and libraries in 48 cities of Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, USA, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. Among the participants of the conference there was a corresponding member of RAE, 39 doctors and 82 candidates of sciences. Along with professors and associate professors, the conference was attended by young scientists: assistant lecturers, postgraduate students, master students, students and schoolchildren. The article analyzes the work of the plenary session, sections, round tables and the discussion platform. The mainstream sections were the following: “Patriotic War: history and modernity”, “National economy of the USSR during the Great Patriotic War”, “Social history of the Great Patriotic War”, “Lower Volga and the Don during the Great Patriotic War”, “Source base for the study of the Great Patriotic War”, “Problems of historiography of the Great Patriotic War”. The permanent sections presented reports on military history in ancient times, the middle ages, modern and contemporary times, social protection of the population in wartime, and international aspects of the Battle of Stalingrad. The round tables discussed issues of military and political security of society and the state, problems of military memorial tourism in the Russian Federation, and international aspects of military conflicts. The discussion platform was dedicated to patriotic education of children and youth.
Activities of the U.S. Special Services in the Republic of China During the Civil War (1927–1950)
Authors:   Samara State University of Social Sciences and Education, Levin Yaroslav
Published: March 2021

Introduction. The Chinese Civil War was a time of rapprochement between the United States and the Republic of China, but there were enormous difficulties and contradictions between the two countries. Methods and materials. In this regard, it seems that the information of the two main agencies of the U.S. intelligence community is able to significantly supplement the picture of the interaction between the two countries and allows better understanding of why at some point Washington was forced to almost completely abandon its support for the Chiang Kai-shek regime. The article is based on the principles of historicism and consistency, as well as the methods of historical comparative studies. Analysis and results. The excessive level of corruption, which involved numerous American structures and officials, internal conflicts in the Republic’s government that influenced the situation and the course of the confrontation and were consecrated in FBI and CIA documents, contributed to the gradual withdrawal of the United States from the policy of the unconditional support for the Chiang Kai-shek regime, but the Communist victory and the establishment of the PRC made, in the absence of other real alternatives, it necessary to continue to support the Republic. The new information makes it possible to better understand how the White House treated the leader of “democratic” China and his family, as well as to better understand the role of intelligence and counterintelligence in these processes and the place of Soviet intelligence in the final stages of the heavy civil war in China (1927–1950). The materials presented in the article and their analysis show specifics and differences in approaches of the FBI and CIA on the example of work on China. The article is based on FBI and CIA archives and covers the period from 1943 to 1949.
Nesting tree selection by scattered heronry birds of drought prone Northern Bankura, West Bengal, India: preference of Phoenix sylvestris near wetland-associated habitats
Authors: NAYAK Ananya
Published: March 2021

The present study was conducted in the Gangajalghati block of Northern Bankura, India, to investigate the habitat and nest tree preference of three colonial waterbirds viz. Nycticorax nycticorax, Egretta garzetta, and Ardeola grayii. The study sites were surveyed for 20 months between 2017 and 2020. A total of 817 nests with an average of 204 per year were recorded on 13 tree species. Nycticorax nycticorax showed the maximum nest count followed by Egretta garzetta and Ardeola grayii. Relative abundance data revealed Phoenix sylvestris as the most abundant species (45%) of the area and harbours the highest proportion (33%) of nests. Pooled nest count data showed significantly higher (p < 0.01) total nest counts in the wetland associated habitats than others. The study observed more nest density of all three species near a cluster of small ponds than in a large water body. Year-wise difference in cumulative nest number and mean nest abundance of all three species was statistically insignificant. The interspecific nearest neighbour on Phoenix sylvestris were Egretta garzetta (88.37%) for Nycticorax nycticorax and Nycticorax nycticorax (83.25%) for Egretta garzetta and Ardeola grayii.  Further, the study evaluated the impact of two tropical cyclones (Amphan and Fani) on the total nest count and found that more than 75% nests (p < 0.05) were destroyed by the mighty Amphan in May 2020. The study provides a baseline data on nesting trees and habitat preference of three species of heronry birds from Northern Bankura.
Microbial assessment and proximate composition of bread samples collected from different bakeries in Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Nigeria
Authors: OJO Segun S. , ADEOYE Adekunle O. , AJALA Adeladun S. , OLADIPO Iyabo C.
Published: March 2021

Bread is a staple food in Nigeria and establishment of bakeries depend on the financial capacity and processing technique employed by processors. This has led to various breads in terms of nutrition and asepsis. In this study, three types of ready-to-eat bread were purchased from different bakery retail shops in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. The control sample was prepared in Food Science Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso. These samples were analyzed for proximate composition, bacterial and fungal contamination using standard microbial procedure (SMP) and disc diffusion method (DDM) for sensitivity test to investigate safety handling practices during production, distribution and anti-microbial effect on microbial contaminant.  The results of microbial analysis are as follows: total viable count (1.1 x103 - 4.5x103) cfu/g, coliform count (0-1.9x103) cfu/g, and mold count (0.3x 105 -3.7x105) cfu/g. The percentage of organisms isolated were E. coli. 15%, B. subtilis and S. aureus 20%, P. aureginosa 10%, S. cerevisiae 15.77%, R. stolonifer 13.46%, Mucor spp. and A. niger 18.08%, and P. notatum 7.69%. The result of the proximate analysis was as follows: protein (9.13- 9.79%), crude fat (1.64-4.50%), ash (1.32-1.77%), crude fibre (0.10-0.23%), moisture content (27.22 -29.05%) and carbohydrate (55.89-59.40%). The most sensitive antimicrobial agent was gentamycin across treatment. The organisms restricted septrin, augmenting, and chloramphenicol completely. Bacillus subtilis has the highest zone of inhibition with the use of gentamycin.
Case report of nasal pseudotumor – a rare presentation in severe haemophilia A with high titre inhibitors
Authors: Mandal Prakas Kumar , Garg Malini , Gantait Debasis , Jana Utpal
Published: March 2021

Haemophilia patients with inhibitors suffer from increased morbidity and mortality due to the ineffectiveness of factor VIII replacement. Pseudotumors are rare but dangerous complications in these patients, and nasal pseudotumors are even rarer. Here, we present the case of a young child with severe haemophilia A with high titre inhibitors who developed a nasal pseudotumor. When immune tolerance therapy was not possible due to financial constraints, he was treated with FEIBA prophylaxis and rituximab. The pseudotumor was managed with surgical excision. We conclude that epistaxis in haemophiliacs can be due to an underlying nasal pseudotumor, and highlight the use of rituximab for the eradication of inhibitors.
Features of Forensic Medical Examination of Motorcycle Injuries
Authors:   I.D. Putilin Belgorod Law Institute  of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Belgorod, Russia, Zhernovoy M. G. , Zhurbenko A. M. ,   I.D. Putilin Belgorod Law Institute  of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Belgorod, Russia, Popov A. M. ,   Moscow Academy of the Investigative Committee  of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
Published: March 2021

The article discusses the the peculiarities of conducting a forensic medical examination of an automobile injury. The relevance of this topic is associated with a high percentage of injuries and fatalities in road accidents, which, according to statistics, occupy one of the leading places among the causes of death. This is due to a sharp increase in the number of vehicles traveling on highways around the world, in particular, in the Russian Federation.
PLEVRAL HASTALIKLARIN TANISINDA VATS’IN ETKİNLİĞİ
Authors: TÜLÜCE Kerim , SEVİLGEN Gökçen
Published: March 2021

Plevral hastalıklar klinikte karşımıza plevral kalınlaşma

ve plevral efüzyon olarak çıkmaktadır. Plevral

efüzyon, plevral boşlukta sıvı birikmesidir. Çalışmamızda,

plevral efüzyon veya plevral kalınlaşma nedeni

ile kliniğimize yatırdığımız ve Video Yardımlı Torakoskopik

Cerrahi (VATS) yaptığımız hastaların klinik

özelliklerini ve postoperatif patolojik sonuçlarını literatür

bilgileri eşliğinde paylaşmayı amaçladık.

Gereç ve Yöntem

2017 Ocak ile 2020 Ekim arasında plevral efüzyon

ve plevral kalınlaşma nedeniyle Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Üniversitesi Eğitim Araştırma Hastanesi Göğüs

Cerrahisi Kliniği’ne yatırılan ve VATS uygulanan 58

hastanın dosyaları retrospektif olarak incelendi. Hastaların

yaş, cinsiyet, hastanede yatış süreleri belirlendi.

Plevral sıvıların biyokimyasal testleri, sitolojileri,

plevral biyopsi sonuçları ve hastanede yatış süreleri

kaydedildi. Plevral biyopsilerin patolojileri malign ve

benign olarak ayrılıp karşılaştırmalı olarak incelendi.

Bulgular

VATS ile biyopsi yapılan 58 hastanın 42’si (%72,4)

erkek, 16’sı (%27,6) kadındı. Ortalama yaş 58,4

±16,2 idi. Erkeklerin yaş ortalaması 58,2, kadınların

yaş ortalaması ise 61,2 idi. Hastanede yatış süresi

ortalama 4,1±1,4 gün idi. Hastaların 12’sinde (%20

,6) plevral efüzyona eşlik eden plevral kalınlaşma

mevcuttu. Plevral sıvı sitolojilerine bakıldığında 44

(%75,8) hastanın benign, 14 (%24,2) hastanın malign

sitoloji olduğu görüldü. Biyopsi sonucu 17 (%29,3)

hastada malign iken 41 (%70,7) hasta benign olarak

değerlendirildi. Malign olarak sonuçlanan hastaların

11’i (%64,7) adenokarsinom idi. Benign sonuçların ise

29’u (%70,7) kronik aktif inflamasyon olarak sonuçlandı.

Sonuç

Analizlerimizin sonucunda, VATS’ın plevral hastalıkların

tanı ve tedavisinde güvenle kullanılabilecek efektif

minimal invaziv bir yöntem olduğunu düşünüyoruz.
Chromosomal DNA extraction from Gram-positive bacteria v1
Authors: Kiledal Anders , A Maresca Julia
Published: March 2021

Extraction of high-molecular-weight DNA from Gram-positive bacterial species, with optional steps for removing surfactants. This DNA is suitable for sequencing and the protocol can be scaled up at least 5-fold. Modified from a protocol by Tina Wecke, LMU-Munich.
Rapid quantification of cellulose nanocrystals by Calcofluor White fluorescence staining v2
Authors: Peretz Roi , Mamane Hadas , Elizaveta Sterenzon not provided , Gerchman Yoram
Published: March 2021

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have gained worldwide interest for their properties. CNCs are mostly produced by acid hydrolysis of cellulose-rich biomass, but its’ quantification is still complicated and tedious. Here, we describe a rapid method for the determination of CNCs concentration using Calcofluor White (CW) fluorescence dye. This method is robust, easy, selective for crystalline cellulose and suitable for routine measurement in CNCs production.
Degradation of Nonylphenol Ethoxylate-10 (NPE-10) by Mediated Electrochemical Oxidation (MEO) Technology
Authors: Setiyanto Henry , Syaifullah Muhammad. Muslim , Adyatmika I Made , Setyorini Dian Ayu , Azis Muhammad Yudhistira , Saraswaty Vienna , Zulfikar Muhammad Ali
Published: March 2021

Nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE-10) is a non-ionic surfactant that is synthesized from alkylphenol ethoxylate. The accumulation of NPE-10 in wastewater will endanger the ecosystem as well as the human being. Nowadays, NPE-10 can be degraded indirectly by using an electrochemical treatment by the advancement of technology. Thus, this study is aimed to evaluate the electro-degradation potential of NPE-10 by MEO using Ce(IV) ionic mediator. In addition, the influence of Ag(I) ionic catalyst in the performance of MEO for the degradation of NPE-10 was also observed. The potency of MEO technology in the NPE-10 degradation was evaluated by voltammetry technique and confirmed by titrimetry and LC-MS analysis. The results showed that in the absence of Ag(I) ionic catalyst, the degradation of NPE-10 by MEO was 85.93%. Furthermore, when the Ag(I) ionic catalyst was applied, the performance of MEO in degradation of NPE-10 was improved to 95.12%. The back titration using Ba(OH)2 confirmed the formation of CO2 by 46.79%, whereas the redox titration shows the total of degradation organic compounds by 42.50%. It was emphasized by the formation of two new peaks in the LC-MS chromatogram. In summary, our results confirmed the potential of MEO technology for the NPE-10 degradation.
Effect of the Tocotrienol-Rich Fraction (TRF) on the Healthspan of Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Tan Tzer Sien , Sathik Rahman Muhammad Firdaus , Ismail Siti Sara , Mohamad Nur Najihah , Mustaffa Ahmad Hazim , Gunasekaran Geetha , Zulkefli Siti Bazilah , Goon Jo Aan
Published: March 2021

Vitamin E is an established antioxidant. However, the effect of vitamin E on healthspan, which deteriorates during ageing, has not been determined because most related studies have emphasized its effects on lifespan. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of palm tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) on the lifespan, locomotion and thermotolerance of Caenorhabditis elegans, which share many common gene sequences with humans. The nematodes were treated with different concentrations of TRF (0 - 200 μg/mL), and the number of surviving nematodes at each concentration (N=30, duplicate) was counted daily under a light microscope to determine the optimal dose of treatment. The nematodes were divided into 3 groups, namely; control, Tween-80 (vehicle) and TRF-treated. Locomotion and thermotolerance were determined on day 4 and 12 of treatment in adult nematodes. ImageJ was used for locomotion analysis, and thermotolerance was determined based on nematode survivals after exposure to 37 °C. TRF-treated C. elegans had significantly longer lifespans compared to controls (P = 0.003). The TRF group (50 μg/mL) had the longest mean lifespan (23.5 days), which was significantly longer compared to controls, (18.5 days; (P = 0.002). However, locomotion was similar between all groups. In the thermotolerance assay, the survival determined on day 4 and day 12 of TRF-treatment was higher compared to controls (P= 0.046). Interestingly, the Tween- 80-treated group showed similar results as the TRF-treated group compared to controls. The findings indicate that TRF prolongs the lifespan and increases the thermotolerance of C. elegans but does not improve the locomotion of the worms as they age.
The Effects of Acute Glucoprivation on Adrenomedullary Function in SHR and WKY Rats
Authors: Damanhuri Hanafi Ahmad , Dunkley Peter Robert , Goodchild Ann Kathleen
Published: March 2021

We have shown previously, acute intraperitoneal administration of 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG) into Sprague-Dawley rats led to activation of the adrenal medulla chromaffin cells, indicated with increased protein kinase activity and increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) phosphorylation, as well as increased plasma adrenaline and glucose levels. Here we have used spontaneous hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats to investigate whether hypertension alters basal adrenal chromaffin cell function, or the response of these cells to acute 2DG treatment. At basal level, we found no differences in adrenal medulla TH protein, TH phosphorylation, TH activity or catecholamine levels between SHR and WKY despite a significant difference in the level of systolic blood pressure; nor were there differences in plasma catecholamine levels or blood glucose (BG). Furthermore, the vehicle animals evoked no significant changes in any parameter measured in SHR, but evoked significant increases in pSer19TH, plasma adrenaline and BG in WKY. Single episode of glucoprivation evoked increases in PKA and CDK/MAPK, pSer40TH, pSer31TH, TH activity, and plasma adrenaline and BG in SHR, and in addition evoked increases in PKC, CAMKII, and pSer19TH in WKY. These findings are significant which indicates hypertension does not impact catecholamine function in the adrenal gland. It also appears that hypertension does not alter the adrenal response to glucoprivation. The findings are also significant as WKY showed greater adrenal activation of protein kinases and TH phosphorylation in response to saline and 2DG when compared to SHR and possible reasons for these findings are further discussed.