bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Islam and security narratives in Eurasia
Authors: Mesbahi Mohiaddin
Published: November 2021

The 1979 Iranian Revolution and the re-emergence of Islam as a major political factor ushered in an international narrative linking Islam with security. This initial securitisation of Islam was qualitatively enhanced by the 9/11 crisis and the emergence of a US-inspired and led global masternarrative on Islamic threat. Eurasian Islam had its own rich, more nuanced and complex normative heritage, both in its “Orthodox” imperial Russian and Marxist Soviet past, from which to construct its own native securitisation narrative of Islam; it was nevertheless heavily affected by the post-9/11 global masternarrative. This article analyses the impact of this masternarrative on the securitisation of Islam in Eurasia, and its symbiosis and encounter with Eurasian Islam in the post-Soviet, and especially post-9/11, eras. It further analyses Russia’s attempt at both bandwagoning and differentiation, the utilisation of the masternarrative in Central Asia and its implications for authoritarianism, and the disposition of major actors such as the US, China, Iran and Turkey towards the securitisation of Islam. Post-Arab Spring dynamics have added new levels of complexity to the securitisation of Islam, specifically for Russia and its relations with the North Caucasus in particular, and with the wider Muslim and Western worlds more generally. Encounters and synergies between the global and Eurasian narratives, as elsewhere, have become a major source of policy connectivity between the states, societies, and social movements of the region and global Islamic politics.
Recognising politics in unrecognised states: 20 years of enquiry into the de facto states of the South Caucasus
Authors: Broers Laurence
Published: November 2021

De facto states in the South Caucasus have presented a range of theoretical and empirical challenges for both scholars and policy-makers for some 20 years. This article charts the trajectories of different concepts, theories and paradigms deployed over this period to understand de facto states in this region, and in particular their internal dynamics. It is argued that while external factors are central to the sustainability of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorny Karabakh, scholarship on these entities has increasingly over time asserted the relevance of their internal politics. The article discusses how over the last decade this analysis has increasingly conflicted with the revival of the region’s central state authorities, whose conceptual reading and policy repertoires vis-à-vis de facto states remain focused on their external support structures. The article finishes by discussing some of the implications of this disjunction for policies enacted towards to de facto states of the region by both central state authorities and the international community.
Between secular education and Islamic philosophy: the approach and achievements of Fethullah Gülen’s followers in Azerbaijan
Authors: Balci Bayram
Published: November 2021

Fethullah Gülen is the leader of a very influential Islamic community in Turkey, one of the most important and most transnational Islamic movements in the world. In Azerbaijan, inspired and influenced by his ideas, many Turkish businessmen and educators have endorsed and supported his movement, most importantly with a huge network of private high schools. When this community arrived in Azerbaijan just after the end of the Soviet Union, its main objective was to encourage Islamic revival in this newly independent state where Islam had been weakened by Soviet anti-religious campaigns. However, after a few years, the movement has changed its strategy, terminating religious activism and limiting its engagement solely and uniquely to secular and modern education. However, through successful, modern education, the movement is able to promote Islamic philosophy and ethics. If the ultimate objectives of the movement are unclear, it is evident that it wants to contribute to future elites from its ranks and to be influential in Azerbaijan. Because of this lack of clarity, the movement constantly attracts controversy.
Separatism in the Northern Caucasus
Authors: Gammer Moshe
Published: November 2021

Editors’ note: We publish here posthumously one of the last unpublished articles by the great historian of the Caucasus, Moshe Gammer (1950-2013). Professor in the Department of Middle Eastern and African History at Tel Aviv University, Gammer specialized in the history of Muslim resistance to Russian rule in the Northern Caucasus, to which subject his best-known works, Muslim Resistance to the Tsar: Shamil and the Conquest of Chechnia and Daghestan and The Lone Wolf and the Bear: Three Centuries of Chechen Defiance of Russian Rule, were dedicated. The current article was originally written in 2010 for submission to Europe-Asia Studies, but could not be completed for health reasons. The text has been left unabridged, and the author’s original preferences in terminology and toponymic spellings have been retained. The editors thank Ruth Frankl-Gammer and Dr Chen Bram for their kind assistance in publishing this article.
The foreign policy options of a small unrecognised state: the case of Abkhazia
Authors: Frear Thomas
Published: November 2021

The study of international relations has historically focused on the activities of large, powerful states, dismissing the smaller entities of the international system as unimportant or merely objects of policy for the larger entities. This truism extends especially to those entities that exist in an unrecognised or partially recognised limbo, neither a full part of the international system nor an ungoverned space. Yet in the post-Cold War world, following the dissolution of large multi-national states such as the USSR, these entities have begun to proliferate. This proliferation provides a significant challenge to an international system in which the primary participants are states, and to the institutions created to oversee their interaction. Unrecognised entities, existing outside of this framework, represent a threat to the universal principle of sovereignty, that one true institutionalised aspect of international relations. As such the study of these entities and their interaction with the world outside their borders is a study important for a systemic understanding of contemporary international relations. This article aims to address the foreign policy of one such entity, Abkhazia.
Twenty years after the Nagorny Karabakh ceasefire: an opportunity to move towards more inclusive conflict resolution
Authors: Freizer Sabine
Published: November 2021

Twenty years ago this May the ceasefire that put an end to active fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces for control over Nagorny Karabakh was signed. It was supposed to be the first step in a process to end the conflict. But the expected pull back of forces, deployment of peacekeepers and return of displaced persons never occurred. Instead in recent years the line of contact between the sides has become increasingly tense as some thirty persons are killed every year. Negotiations facilitated by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) over a set of basic principles to guide a comprehensive settlement have become bogged down in details. Nevertheless a whole range of Armenian and Azerbaijani civil groups have over the years had opportunities to develop a third narrative, and think through concrete technical solutions to bridge fundamental differences. This article, bringing lessons from practice to bear for policy on this conflict, argues that the best push that could be made this year to strengthen the ceasefire would be to broaden the Minsk Group process, taking advantage of the civil society expertise, inter-communal trust and know-how of technical and local political elites who are currently outside the process, in order to move beyond the discussion on basic principles towards a comprehensive peace agreement.
Chronology July – December 2013
Authors: Bilderling Sophie Shihab
Published: November 2021

This chronology of events in the North and South Caucasus has been compiled based mainly on Reuters (www.reuters.com/news/world), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (www.rferl.org), Caucasian Knot (www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.ru) and the Jamestown Foundation (www.jamestown.org).
Emotions, loss and change: Armenian women and post-socialist transformations in Nagorny Karabakh
Authors: Shahnazarian Nona , Ziemer Ulrike
Published: November 2021

Based on empirical data obtained from ethnographic fieldwork in Nagorny Karabakh (NK), the article analyses gender as one fundamental but neglected dimension of post-conflict society. In particular, this article examines changing gender relations as a result of the political transformations occurring during and after the Karabakh conflict (1990-2000). The focus is on two groups of women residing in Martuni, a small town in NK. The first group includes local Armenian women, the second Armenian women from Azerbaijan, forced to resettle in Martuni. In this way, the article not only explores how the status of these women and their dependency has changed as a result of the political transformations, but also how gender roles and identities are negotiated when the region of resettlement is not completely unfamiliar to new arrivals. The article concludes by highlighting these Armenian women’s contradictory, yet similar experiences in terms of prevalent gender constructions. In doing so, the article expands research on gender and political transformations in post-socialist regions and beyond.
The Stone Dreams scandal: the Nagorny Karabakh conflict and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations in contemporary literature
Authors: Mamedov Mikail
Published: November 2021

This article analyses the scandal that broke out in Azerbaijan after the publication of Stone Dreams, a novel by Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli. Stone Dreams depicted and condemned the persecution against the Armenian population in Baku and Sumgait in 1988-1990, as well as the early twentieth century massacre of the Armenian community in the writer’s home village, Aylis in Nakhichevan. Akram Aylisli touched on a taboo and in a context with weak civic and democratic institutions, the discussion of such traumatic events in Azerbaijan’s recent past proved unacceptable to both society and the ruling elite. This article reaches beyond contemporary debates, however, to cover earlier and less well-known works with Armenian-Azerbaijani themes such as Evgeniy Voyskunskiy’s novel Maiden Dreams, Seymur Baycan’s Gugark, Maria Martirosova’s Photos To Remember Me By and Levon Javakhian’s short story “Kirve”. These works are reviewed here in terms of how they address issues of conflict, reconciliation and responsibility. This article underscores the importance of literary works dealing with conflict, as they usually reach a much broader audience than academic books.
Transitional intervention strategies for conflict transformation in the South Caucasus
Authors: Huseynov Tabib
Published: November 2021

This article discusses major policy and institutional interventions needed for conflict transformation in the South Caucasus. It examines how different forms of territorialpolitical organisation of government have been used to mitigate both violent and nonviolent conflicts and how international experience could be applied to promote peaceful resolution of the conflicts over Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorny Karabakh. The article shows how the conflicting parties’ mental fixation on final status stalls peace processes, and argues that rather than discussing end-state solutions or end-state models of governance, conflict parties need to focus on interim (transitional) policy and institutional arrangements that would allow them to normalise relations and set out roadmaps for cooperation and gradual reconciliation. The article also underlines the importance of adhering to standards of good governance and human rights, as necessary preconditions for ensuring the legitimacy, and thus, sustainability, of peace processes.
Sinus node dysfunction in heart failure is characterized by reduced CaMKII signaling
Authors: Xue Jian-Bin , Val-Blasco Almudena , Davoodi Moran , Gómez Susana , Yaniv Yael , Benitah Jean-Pierre , Gómez Ana-Maria
Published: November 2021

Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome in which death rates are >50%. The main causes of death among HF patients are pump failure and ventricular arrhythmias, but severe bradycardia is also a common cause of sudden cardiac death, pointing to sinoatrial node (SAN) dysfunction. SAN pacemaker activity is regulated by voltage-clock and Ca2+-clock mechanisms and, although voltage-clock dysfunction in SAN has been largely proved in HF, Ca2+-clock dysfunction mechanisms in SAN remains unraveled. Here, we used an HF model in mice with transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and, using telemetry, saw slower heart rhythm under autonomic nervous system blockade. Then, by confocal microscopy, we analyzed Ca2+ handling in HF SAN tissue and found that intracellular Ca2+ transients rate were slower together with less frequency of Ca2+ sparks than in SHAM SAN tissue. Next, we studied protein expression of key excitation–contraction coupling proteins and found reduced expression of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and reduced phosphorylated status of ryanodine receptor and phospholamban in the CaMKII sites for the SAN in TAC mice. Finally, the application of the CaMKII inhibitor, KN93, caused less effect in slowing the Ca2+ transient rates in HF SAN tissue, confirming the reduced CaMKII activation. In conclusion, our data demonstrates a reduction in CaMKII activation in the Ca2+-clock function of the SAN tissue in a mouse model of HF.
Probenecid affects sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release and depresses contractile activation in mouse skeletal muscle
Authors: Jaque-Fernandez Francisco , Allard Bruno , Monteiro Laloe , Lafoux Aude , Huchet Corinne , Jaimovich Enrique , Berthier Christine , Jacquemond Vincent
Published: November 2021

Pannexins are plasma membrane heptameric channels mediating ATP release from the cytosol to the extracellular space. Skeletal muscle activity is associated with Pannexin 1 (Panx1) channels activation, ATP release out to the extracellular space and subsequent activation of purinergic signaling pathways. In agreement, recent evidence has shown molecular and functional interactions between Panx1 and the excitation–contraction (EC) coupling machinery of skeletal muscle. In this framework, we tested whether pharmacological effectors of Panx1 affect EC coupling in differentiated muscle fibers. Using confocal detection of cytosolic Ca2+ in voltage-clamped mouse muscle fibers, we found that the Panx1 blocker probenecid (1 mM) affects intracellular Ca2+ handling and EC coupling: acute application of probenecid generates a rise in resting Ca2+ that also occurs in nominally Ca2+-free extracellular medium. This effect is associated with a reduction of Ca2+ release through the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ channel RYR1. The effect of probenecid persists with time, with muscle fibers incubated for 30 min in the presence of the drug exhibiting a 40% reduction in peak SR Ca2+ release. Under the same conditions, the other Panx1 blocker carbenoxolone (50 µM) produced a 70% reduction in peak SR Ca2+ release. Application of probenecid on electrically stimulated whole mouse muscle induced a slight rise in resting tension and a >50% reduction of tetanic force after 30 min of incubation. Our results provide further support for the strong links between Panx1 function and EC coupling. Because probenecid is used both in the clinic for several types of therapeutic benefits and as a hiding agent for doping in sport, our results question whether potential adverse muscular effects may have, so far, been overlooked.
Molecular basis of impaired muscle function in a mouse model of congenital myopathy due to compound heterozygous RYR1 mutations
Authors: Ruiz Alexis , Eckhardt Jan , Treves Susan , Zorzato Francesco
Published: November 2021

Congenital myopathies (CM) are a group of early-onset, genetically diverse muscle disorders of variable severity with characteristic muscle biopsy findings. Mutations in RYR1, the gene encoding the RYR1, are the most common genetic cause, responsible for ∼30% of all human CM. They are linked to the pharmacogenetic disorder malignant hyperthermia susceptibility and to various disease phenotypes, including central core disease (which is primarily dominantly inherited), multiminicore disease (which is predominantly recessively inherited), some forms of centronuclear myopathy and congenital fiber-type disproportion (which can be either dominantly or recessively inherited), and King–Denborough syndrome (a CM characterized by skeletal abnormalities, dysmorphic features, and malignant hyperthermia susceptibility). The recessive forms of RYR1-linked CM are more severe, affecting children at birth and, in addition to profound muscle weakness, may also affect facial and extraocular muscles and cause skeletal deformities and feeding difficulties. To study the mechanism leading to the profound muscle weakness characterized by recessive RYR1-CM, we created transgenic mice knocked in for the compound heterozygous RYR1 p.Q1970fsX16+p.A4329D mutations (double knock-in mouse, or DKI) identified in a severely affected child. The in vivo and ex vivo physiological functions of fast twitch, slow twitch, and extraocular muscles were severely impaired in DKI mice; in addition, the mutations were accompanied by a >50% decrease in RYR1 protein in all muscles examined, as well as changes in the expression of many proteins important for muscle function and chromatin structure. Muscle ultrastructure was disorganized, with fewer CRU and mitochondria and presence of cores. MyHC-EO, the superfast and ocular-muscle−specific myosin heavy isoform, was almost undetectable in EOMs from DKI mutant mice. Thus, the DKI mouse model faithfully recapitulates the human disease and could be exploited for preclinical studies aimed at developing therapeutic strategies to treat neuromuscular disorders linked to recessive RYR1 mutations.
Prediction of an ΩbbbΩbbb
Dibaryon in the Extended One-Boson Exchange Model
Authors: Liu Ming-Zhu , Geng Li-Sheng
Published: November 2021

Since Yukawa proposed that the pion is responsible for mediating the nucleon-nucleon interaction, meson exchanges have been widely used in understanding hadron-hadron interactions. The most studied mesons are the σ, π, ρ, and ω, while other heavier mesons are often argued to be less relevant because they lead to short range interactions. However, whether the range of interactions is short or long should be judged with respect to the size of the system studied. We propose that one charmonium exchange is responsible for the formation of the ΩcccΩccc
dibaryon, recently predicted by lattice QCD simulations. The same approach can be extended to the strangeness and bottom sectors, leading to the prediction on the existence of ΩΩ and ΩbbbΩbbb
dibaryons, while the former is consistent with the existing lattice QCD results, the latter remains to checked. In addition, we show that the Coulomb interaction may break up the ΩcccΩccc
pair but not the ΩbbbΩbbb
and ΩΩ dibaryons.
Effect of Oxide Content of Graphene Oxide Membrane on Remarkable Adsorption for Calcium Ions
Authors: Jiang Jie , Yan Long , Fang Haiping
Published: November 2021

Graphene oxide membranes (GOMs), as one of the most promising novel materials, have gained great interest in the field of adsorption. However, the oxygen content of graphene oxide is directly related to its adsorption properties, such as suspension stability, adsorption capacity, and reusability of GOMs. Here, a series of reduced GOMs with oxygen content from 28% to 12% were conveniently prepared by the thermally reduced and the corresponding interlayer spacing of these membranes changed from 8.0 Å to 3.7 Å. These prepared GOMs have remarkable Ca2+ adsorption capacity, which increases with the oxygen content or interlayer spacing of GOMs. Importantly, the max adsorption capacity of the mass ratio between adsorbed Ca2+ and pristine GOMs can reach up to 0.481 g/g, which is about one order of magnitude higher than the adsorption capacity of activated sludge, magnetic Fe3O4, functionalized silica, zeolite molecular sieve, and other reported previously. Moreover, GOMs show excellent stability and the Ca2+ can be easily desorbed by water, so that the GOMs can be reused. Our previous theoretical analysis suggests that this remarkable adsorption is attributable to the strong interactions between Ca2+ and GO sheets, including the ion-π interactions between Ca2+ and aromatic graphitic rings as well as the electrostatic interaction between Ca2+ and oxygen-containing groups.
Erratum: Magnetic Proximity Effect in an Antiferromagnetic Insulator/Topological Insulator Heterostructure with Sharp Interface [Chin. Phys. Lett. 38 (2021) 057303]
Authors: Liu Yuxin , Niu Xuefan , Zhang Rencong , Zhang Qinghua , Teng Jing , Li Yongqing
Published: November 2021

We should add the following acknowledge: Jing Teng thanks the support from the Youth Innovation Promotion Association Project, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Broadband unidirectional scattering in the transverse direction and angular radiation realized by using a silicon hollow nanodisk under a radially polarized beam
Authors: Xue Fengxia , Fan Haihua , Dai Qiaofeng , Liu Haiying , Lan Sheng
Published: November 2021

In recent years, directional scattering has been one of the most active research hotspots in the field of nanophotonics. Herein, we study the directional scattering properties of a silicon hollow nanodisk (SHND) illuminated by a tightly focused radially polarized beam. The induced strong longitudinal total electric dipole interferes with transverse magnetic dipole to achieve a highly-efficient transverse unidirectional scattering when the SHND is located at a specific position in the focal plane. Moreover, the manipulated unidirectional scattering in the transverse direction can be realized in the broad wavelength range from 581 nm to 656 nm. In addition, the unidirectional angular radiation towards all directions can be realized by adjusting the position of the SHND. Our research results are helpful for the design of nanophotonic devices that can manipulate the angular radiation direction, and have potential applications in sensing, optical communications, solar cells and other fields.
Suppression of instabilities in the transport of a high-power electron beam in the forevacuum pressure range using low-energy thermionic electrons
Authors: Zenin A A , Bakeev I Yu , Klimov A S , Oks E M
Published: November 2021

We report the results of our study on the effect of injection of low-energy thermionic electrons on the suppression of instabilities of the beam-plasma discharge (BPD) type in a beam plasma during the transport of a powerful continuous electron beam generated by a plasma–cathode electron source in the forevacuum range of pressure. As result of thermionic electron injection, the plasma electron temperature decreased to 0.3 eV and the plasma density decreased by an order of magnitude to 1015 m−3. The minimal thermoelectron current required for suppressing the BPD increases with increasing emission current and decreases with increase of the beam accelerating voltage.
Fully differentiable optimization protocols for non-equilibrium steady states
Authors: Vargas-Hernández Rodrigo A , Chen Ricky T Q , Jung Kenneth A , Brumer Paul
Published: November 2021

In the case of quantum systems interacting with multiple environments, the time-evolution of the reduced density matrix is described by the Liouvillian. For a variety of physical observables, the long-time limit or steady state (SS) solution is needed for the computation of desired physical observables. For inverse design or optimal control of such systems, the common approaches are based on brute-force search strategies. Here, we present a novel methodology, based on automatic differentiation, capable of differentiating the SS solution with respect to any parameter of the Liouvillian. Our approach has a low memory cost, and is agnostic to the exact algorithm for computing the SS. We illustrate the advantage of this method by inverse designing the parameters of a quantum heat transfer device that maximizes the heat current and the rectification coefficient. Additionally, we optimize the parameters of various Lindblad operators used in the simulation of energy transfer under natural incoherent light. We also present a sensitivity analysis of the SS for energy transfer under natural incoherent light as a function of the incoherent-light pumping rate.
Effect of spectral overlap and mixing ratio on metal-semiconductor mixed colloid
Authors: Gurung Sabina , Singh Asha , Jayabalan J
Published: November 2021

Metal-semiconductor hybrid colloid is an emerging paradigm for the construction of advanced materials having multiple functionalities. In such colloids, the ratio between the number of metal nanoparticles (NP) to the number of semiconductor quantum dots (QD) plays an important role in controlling the properties of the final hybrid colloid. We study the effect of the mixing ratio of Ag NPs to the CdTe QDs on the photoluminescence (PL) properties of the final mixed hybrid colloid. Using steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence, it has been shown that when exciton and plasmon spectrally overlap in a hybrid, the amplitude of the decay component of PL depends on the excitation energy. Such dependence is not observed in the case of hybrid where exciton and plasmon are spectrally separated. This study contributes to the appropriate selection of the shape of metal NPs in designing a hybrid material that is well suited for optoelectronic device applications.
A methylammonium iodide healing method for CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cells with high fill factor over 80%
Authors: Li Zhen , Yang Guanjun
Published: November 2021

Repressing the thermal decomposition during the process of heat treatment plays an indispensable part in the preparation of perovskite films. Here, a methylammonium iodide healing method was applied to prevent the volatilization of the organic component inside the perovskite structure during the heat treatment. High-quality CH3NH3PbI3 film with a much larger grain size over 800 nm was successfully fabricated via this healing method. Besides, the absorption and photoluminescence intensity were also both improved. Finally, the best power conversion efficiency of 18.89% with a fill factor over 80% was realized in an n–i–p configuration while possessing outstanding stability. This work suggests that methylammonium iodide healing method is a reliable way to promote crystal growth and improve the photovoltaic performance and humidity stability of the CH3NH3PbI3 solar cells.
Certain investigation on RC aircraft engine to identify the suitability of Methanol and Castor oil Alternative fuel
Authors: Yuvaraj S , Thomas Renald C J , Senthil Kumar A P , Sadesh K , Naveen Promoth D
Published: November 2021

In the current age drones are broadly utilized for different applications in pretty much every field. Because of the disturbing expense of the glow fuel utilized in the RC motors, utilization of the equivalent includes a ton of capital. Adding to it, the current fuel brings about intermittent combustion is in demand of alternate fuel. This paper manages the investigation of existing fuel synthesis and discovering the cost required to dispose of the high capital included, so that considerably more tests and study utilizing the RC Engines 2.5 cc can be completed easily. Methanol and Castor oil Combination is considered as an alternate fuel. The approach includes testing of the fuel to decipher the substance parts and their individual pieces through a progression of tests. Followed by the study of possible additives to enhance the performance of the engine without actually altering the timing intervals. The new creation of the fuel showed up is blended in with extraordinary hardware and the equivalent is tried for essential fuel properties viz., Density, Flash point, Fire point, Calorific value, and so forth The productivity arrangement is made utilizing a pulley instrument and the equivalent is tried for both the energizes. Performance of the R/C aircraft engine was tested with existing glow fuel and the new blend. Results are compared and concluded that the designed blend is a potent alternate fuel for R/C aircraft engines. *Future scope: It can be further tested for its SFC and emission standards. The outcome shows that the new fuel is exceptionally cost productive and the essential substance properties are profoundly improved.
Communal space patterns in tsunami aid housing for creating public open space after COVID-19 (case study: Gampong Tibang, Banda Aceh, Indonesia)
Authors: Khairunnisak  , Irwansyah M , Wulandari E
Published: November 2021

After the 2004 tsunami disaster, many aid housing developments were carried out, including housing in Gampong Tibang (Tibang Village), Banda Aceh City, with the pattern of building in the initial plot, with low building density. The local community has developed their housing according to their needs. When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, requiring everyone to be in their respective homes, causing open space in the housing environment to become important as a village communal space, which has social and health functions for residents. This research emphasizes how people use communal open spaces for various activities, which are adaptive to the COVID-19 health protocol. The study approach uses field research quickly, the data is obtained by observing the type of housing open space that has the public function (communal open space) and the behavior of the community in using the space. The analysis was carried out in an analytical descriptive manner, looking at the pattern of activities associated with the COVID-19 health protocol. The results showed that there were 9 communal spaces spread over 4 types: a) field with a bale (an open design building of wood), which was used by men; b) the space around the kiosk that provides seating on an open terrace for all residents; c) open space around the intersection for children to play dynamically (cycling, running, sitting); d) the terrace of the residents’ house which is more for the passive activities of women. That four types of spaces according to the COVID-19 health protocol are very familiar with a natural atmosphere (enough air circulation and sufficient exposure to sunlight). The conclusion of the study shows that the need for socio-cultural space is still needed by the community during the COVID-19 pandemic which can actually make residents healthy.
The Effect of Plants on Extensive Green Roofs in Urban Heat Island Mitigation Efforts in Humid Tropical Cities
Authors: Irfandi  , Munir Abdul , Muslimsyah  , Huda Khairul
Published: November 2021

One of the urban heat island mitigation strategies in reducing urban temperatures in tropical cities is the application of a green roof system. This study compares the reduction in temperature and heat flow rate provided by three types of plants on extensive green roofs (EGR). We demonstrated that a EGR constructed with three types of plants (ground cover, and shrubs) could result in a decrease in temperature relative to the normal roof (NR). The results showed that the base temperature of the EGR of the bush and ground cover was lower than the base temperature of the NR which was 10.2ºC on indoor air, 17.8ºC on the inside and 19.1ºC on the outside. The peak indoor temperature was over 50ºC for the NR prototype. In the model with pennisetum purpureum schamach as the EGR, the maximum temperature was 40.1ºC, while for portulaca grandiflora and tradescantia spathacea the peaks were 37.6ºC and 37.5ºC, respectively. This shows that plants with large leaf widths are able to reduce heat greater than plants with small leaf widths.
Application of local microorganisms from tuna fish and shrimp waste as bio activator for household organic waste composting by Takakura method
Authors: Dewilda Y , Aziz R , Rahmayuni F
Published: November 2021

Organic waste has the potency to use as bio activator material. This research compares household organic waste compost results with the addition of bio activator from local microorganism activator (LMO) from tuna fish and shrimp waste with Effective Microorganisms (EM4). The composting method used is aerobic composting with the Takakura composting technique. This composting is carried out in 5 variations, variation one without-bio activator added, 2 with LMO of tuna fish waste added, variation 3 with LMO shrimp waste added, variation 4 with LMO of tuna fish, and shrimp waste added, variation 5 with EM4 added. Analysis of all compost quality has met SNI 19-7030-2004 standards. A total of 2 kg of raw material produced solid compost becomes 0.7-1 kg of compost. The use of bio activators can speed up the composting process to 8-12 days. The variation of adding LMO tuna fish waste was chosen as a suitable alternative compared to other variations. The composting process with LMO of tuna fish waste results from the fastest composting time of 9 days with a C/N ratio of 18.45%, P2O5 0.56 %, and 0.76% K2O, with 0.85 kg of compost. Scoring results in variation 2 is the best variation in compost maturity quality.
ZnO thickness and ZnTe back contact effect of CdTe thin film solar cell Voc and efficiency progression
Authors: Ghosh Bablu K , Nasir Syafiqa , Teo Kenneth T K , Saad Ismail
Published: November 2021

CdTe thin film (TF) solar cells are most promising photovoltaic (PV) technology in commercial platform. Back contacts and interface defects related opto-electrical losses are still vital to limit its further technological benefit. TF PV cells shallow recombination and parasitic loss lessening purpose carrier selective back contact with band matching window layers are essential. Beside that back and front contact thickness choice is vital for field associated selective carrier collection and generous optical transmission into the active junction of the cell. It can make variation of cell efficiency. Window and front contact layers band edge variation and back contact thickness effect is analyzed by SCAPS-1D simulation software. ZnO and SnO2 front contact for CdS and CdSe window layers effect are numerically studied for 1 μm CdTe thin film PV cell. Significance of materials for front contact and its thickness effect on current density while ZnTe back surface field contact thickness effect on open circuit voltage and efficiency are demonstrated. Finally, ZnO/CdS/CdTe/ZnTe cell of 0.925 V open circuit voltage and 19.06% efficiency has been achieved for 90 nm of ZnTe with Molybdenum (Mo) back contact.
Further investigation of 3D dose verification in proton therapy utilizing acoustic signal, wavelet decomposition and machine learning
Authors: Yao Songhuan , Hu Zongsheng , Xie Qiang , Yang Yidong , Peng Hao
Published: November 2021

Online dose verification in proton therapy is a critical task for quality assurance. We further studied the feasibility of using a wavelet-based machine learning framework to accomplishing that goal in three dimensions, built upon our previous work in 1D. The wavelet decomposition was utilized to extract features of acoustic signals and a bidirectional long-short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) recurrent neural network (RNN) was used. The 3D dose distributions of mono-energetic proton beams (multiple beam energies) inside a 3D CT phantom, were generated using Monte-Carlo simulation. The 3D propagation of acoustic signal was modeled using the k-Wave toolbox. Three different beamlets (i.e. acoustic pathways) were tested, one with its own model. The performance was quantitatively evaluated in terms of mean relative error (MRE) of dose distribution and positioning error of Bragg peak (

Δ

B
P

), for two signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Due to the lack of experimental data for the time being, two SNR conditions were modeled (SNR = 1 and 5). The model is found to yield good accuracy and noise immunity for all three beamlets. The results exhibit an MRE below 0.6% (without noise) and 1.2% (SNR = 5), and

Δ

B
P

below 1.2 mm (without noise) and 1.3 mm (SNR = 5). For the worst-case scenario (SNR = 1), the MRE and

Δ

B
P

are below 2.3% and 1.9 mm, respectively. It is encouraging to find out that our model is able to identify the correlation between acoustic waveforms and dose distributions in 3D heterogeneous tissues, as in the 1D case. The work lays a good foundation for us to advance the study and fully validate the feasibility with experimental results.
Addendum: Hidden symmetries, trivial conservation laws and Casimir invariants in geophysical fluid dynamics (2018 J. Phys. Commun.
2 115018)
Authors: Charron Martin , Zadra Ayrton
Published: November 2021

An extension is proposed to the internal symmetry transformations associated with mass, entropy and other Clebsch-related conservation in geophysical fluid dynamics. Those symmetry transformations were previously parameterized with an arbitrary function



of materially conserved Clebsch potentials. The extension consists in adding potential vorticity q to the list of fields on which a new arbitrary function



depends. If


=
q

(
s
)

, where


(
s
)

is an arbitrary function of specific entropy s, then the symmetry is trivial and gives rise to a trivial conservation law. Otherwise, the symmetry is non-trivial and an associated non-trivial conservation law exists. Moreover, the notions of trivial and non-trivial Casimir invariants are defined. All non-trivial symmetries that become hidden following a reduction of phase space are associated with non-trivial Casimir invariants of a non-canonical Hamiltonian formulation for fluids, while all trivial conservation laws are associated with trivial Casimir invariants.
Anomaly detection in multidimensional time series—a graph-based approach
Authors: Erz Marcus , Kielman Jeremy Floyd , Uzun Bahar Selvi , Gühring Gabriele Stefanie
Published: November 2021

As the digital transformation is taking place, more and more data is being generated and collected. To generate meaningful information and knowledge researchers use various data mining techniques. In addition to classification, clustering, and forecasting, outlier or anomaly detection is one of the most important research areas in time series analysis. In this paper we present a method for detecting anomalies in multidimensional time series using a graph-based algorithm. We transform time series data to graphs prior to calculating the outlier since it offers a wide range of graph-based methods for anomaly detection. Furthermore the dynamic of the data is taken into consideration by implementing a window of a certain size that leads to multiple graphs in different time frames. We use feature extraction and aggregation to finally compare distance measures of two time-dependent graphs. The effectiveness of our algorithm is demonstrated on the numenta anomaly benchmark with various anomaly types as well as the KPI-anomaly-detection data set of 2018 AIOps competition.
The actual challenge for the ontological argument
Authors: Hausmann Marco
Published: November 2021

Many versions of the ontological argument have two shortcomings: First, despite the arguments put forward, for example, by Hugh Chandler and Nathan Salmon, they assume that S5 is the correct modal logic for metaphysical modality. Second, despite the classical arguments put forward, for example, by David Hume and Immanuel Kant or the more recent arguments put forward, for example, by John Findlay and Richard Swinburne, they assume that necessary existence is possible. The aim of the paper is to develop an alternative version of the ontological argument that, by an appeal to the logic of ‘actually’, avoids these two shortcomings. The version helps to leave aside unnecessary debates about the modal logic S5 or about the possibility of necessary existence and to focus on the actual challenge for the debate about the ontological argument: the challenge to evaluate the claim that it is possible that God exists.
minoTour, real-time monitoring and analysis for nanopore sequencers
Authors: Munro Rory , Santos Roberto , Payne Alexander , Forey Teri , Osei Solomon , Holmes Nadine , Loose Matthew
Published: November 2021

minoTour offers a Laboratory Informations Management System (LIMS) system for Oxford Nanopore Technology sequencers, with real-time metrics and analysis available permanently for review. Integration of unique real-time automated analysis can reduce the time required to answer biological questions, including mapping and classification of sequence while a run is in progress. Real-time sequence data require new methods of analysis which do not wait for the completion of a run and minoTour provides a framework to allow users to exploit these features.

Availability and implementation

Source code and documentation are available at https://github.com/LooseLab/minotourcli and https://github.com/LooseLab/minotourapp. Docker images are available from https://hub.docker.com/r/adoni5/, and can be installed using a preconfigured docker-compose script at https://github.com/LooseLab/minotour-docker. An example server is available at http://137.44.59.170.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Oral Contraceptive Pills Are an Effective Method of Preventing Pregnancy in Women With Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Daoud Nader D , Ghoz Hassan , Cannon Rachel , Farraye Jennifer A , Picco Michael F , Kane Sunanda V , Kochhar Gursimran S , Woodhams Elisabeth J , Farraye Francis A
Published: November 2021

Background

Oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use in the general population is associated with a failure rate as low as 0.3% with perfect use but as high as 9% with typical use. Women with Crohn’s disease (CD) may have malabsorption in the setting of small bowel disease or resection, which could affect absorption of OCPs. Our aim was to determine the incidence of pregnancy in women with CD on OCPs.

Methods

This is a retrospective study assessing the incidence rate of OCP failure in females between 18 and 45 years of age seen at the Mayo Clinic with a diagnosis of CD and provided a prescription for OCPs, between 2016 and 2020. Failure was defined as clear documentation of becoming pregnant while using OCPs or having an active prescription of OCP at the time of conception.

Results

A total of 818 female patients with CD between 18 and 45 years of age with a prescription for an OCP were included in our study. Sixty-six patients (8%) conceived in this cohort. Of the 66 patients who became pregnant, 57 stopped the OCP before conceiving, 5 were excluded due to lack of data, and 4 women had active oral contraceptive prescriptions when they became pregnant (pregnancy rate of 0.5%).

Conclusions

In female patients with CD who are using OCPs for contraception, we found a low rate of pregnancy (0.5%) similar to the rate of pregnancy with perfect use of OCPs in the general population. OCPs are an effective method of birth control in women with CD.
(Per)Forming Italian American (In)Famous Ties: Revisiting the “Mean” Streets through Louisa Ermelino’s Spring Street Trilogy
Authors: Sañudo Eva Pelayo
Published: November 2021

Italian American iconic images of cultural and gender identity are analyzed as a performative practice in Louisa Ermelino’s Spring Street Trilogy, which challenges traditional senses of identity by situating masculine and feminine archetypes within wider structures of power. In contrast to the trope of the “mean” streets traditionally associated with men’s urban performances, Ermelino’s three novels interrogate normative gender roles and ethnic affiliations. This representation is generated from the vantage point of the microcosm of a street, which is therefore worth analyzing as a recurring trope of the author’s work.
Development and validation of an echocardiographic algorithm to predict long-term mitral and tricuspid regurgitation progression
Authors: Strom Jordan B , Zhao Yuansong , Shen Changyu , Wasfy Jason H , Xu Jiaman , Yucel Evin , Tanguturi Varsha , Hyland Patrick M , Markson Lawrence J , Kazi Dhruv S , Cui Jinghan , Hung Judy , Yeh Robert W , Manning Warren J
Published: November 2021

Aims

Prediction of mitral (MR) and tricuspid (TR) regurgitation progression on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is needed to personalize valvular surveillance intervals and prognostication.

Methods and results

Structured TTE report data at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 26 January 2000–31 December 2017, were used to determine time to progression (≥1+ increase in severity). TTE predictors of progression were used to create a progression score, externally validated at Massachusetts General Hospital, 1 January 2002–31 December 2019. In the derivation sample (MR, N = 34 933; TR, N = 27 526), only 5379 (15.4%) individuals with MR and 3630 (13.2%) with TR had progression during a median interquartile range) 9.0 (4.1–13.4) years of follow-up. Despite wide inter-individual variability in progression rates, a score based solely on demographics and TTE variables identified individuals with a five- to six-fold higher rate of MR/TR progression over 10 years (high- vs. low-score tertile, rate of progression; MR 20.1% vs. 3.3%; TR 21.2% vs. 4.4%). Compared to those in the lowest score tertile, those in the highest tertile of progression had a four-fold increased risk of mortality. On external validation, the score demonstrated similar performance to other algorithms commonly in use.

Conclusion

Four-fifths of individuals had no progression of MR or TR over two decades. Despite wide interindividual variability in progression rates, a score, based solely on TTE parameters, identified individuals with a five- to six-fold higher rate of MR/TR progression. Compared to the lowest tertile, individuals in the highest score tertile had a four-fold increased risk of mortality. Prediction of long-term MR/TR progression is not only feasible but prognostically important.
Feedback of ATP measurement as a tool for reducing environmental contamination in hospitals in the Dutch/Belgian border area
Authors: Van Arkel Andreas , Willemsen Ina , Kilsdonk-Bode Linda , Vlamings-Wagenaars Sindy , Van Oudheusden Anne , De Waegemaeker Pascal , Leroux-Roels Isabel , Verelst Martine , Maas Evelien , Van Oosten Anita , Willemse Patricia , Van Asselen Esther , Klomp-Berens Ella , Franssen Karen , Van Cauwenberg Elise , Schweitzer Valentijn , Kluytmans Jan
Published: November 2021

Design

A two-phase prospective intervention study.

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine if feedback of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) measurements decreases environmental contamination within hospitals in the Dutch/Belgian border area.

Methods

Standardized ATP measurements were conducted in nine hospitals on pre-defined fomites. Four different fomite groups were defined: medical devices, patient-bound materials, ward-bound materials and sanitary items. ATP results were reported in relative light unit (RLU), RLU >1000 was considered as ‘not clean.’ Two rounds of ATP measurements were conducted. After the first round of ATP measurements, results were provided to the wards and cleaning staff. The second round of ATP measurements was performed one year later. The amount of surface contamination before and after the feedback was compared.

Results

In total 1923 ATP measurements were performed. Before feedback 960 ATP measurements were conducted and after feedback 963 were conducted. The overall median reduction in RLU was 381 (P < 0.001), from 568 before feedback to 187 afterward. In each hospital there was a reduction of the median RLU after feedback.

Conclusions

Substantial reductions in RLU values were found after feedback of ATP measurements. Feedback of ATP measurement in itself was associated with a major reduction of surface contamination in hospitals.