bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of multidirectional and unidirectional wobble board lateral step-upexercise in pain, symptom and ADLamong unilateral medial compartmental osteoarthrosis of knee
Authors: Kotteeswaran K , Shanmugasundaram Natarajan , Shalini S. , Sowmya M.V.
Published: October 2021

Introduction and Aim:Osteoarthrosis is defined as degenerative condition of the synovial joints. Weak thigh muscle will cause impaired walking and balance and leads to risk of fall during activities of daily living. Use of MD and UD wobble board is hypothesized to improve balance and proprioception. So, pain, muscle power and proprioception are clinically important for balance control. Hence there is a need to study weight bearing exercise to hip abductor in various balance strategies to achieve muscle strength, joint position sense, balance, and activity of daily living.

 

Methodology: Knee osteoarthrosis subjects(n=219) were selected according to selection criteria andwere randomly allocated into 3 groups as multidirectional wobble board lateral step-up exercise group, unidirectional wobble board lateral step-up exercise group and control group. The pre-test KOOS pain, symptoms and ADL measurements were taken before the intervention and another measurement during the 2nd week of intervention and at the end of the intervention period during 4thweek post-test measurements were measured and statistically analysed.

 

Results:  At the end of 4th week control, UD and MD was found to be statistically significant with H=200.192 with p<0.001. KOOS symptoms between 3 groups was found to be statistically significant with H=200.288 and p <0.001. KOOS ADL values was found to be statistically significant between 3 groups with H=193.640 and p<0.001.

 

Conclusion: This study concludes that both unidirectional and multidirectional wobble board lateral step-up exercise showed improvement with KOOS pain, symptom and ADL scores compared to control group.
Adherence to Anti-coagulant therapy in elderly patients with Atrial fibrillation in the Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Bazira Kanat kyzy , Kinderbaeva Nazgul , Karataeva Gulnora , Mamatova Sabira , Kundashev Ulan , Mamatov Sagynali
Published: October 2021

Introduction: Anticoagulant therapy can prevent adverse outcomes of Atrial fibrillation (AF), reducing the risk of stroke by 64% and death by 25%. The present study aimed to assess treatment adherence in elderly patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) who were prescribed the vitamin K antagonist warfarin.

 

Materials and methods: In the present retrospective study, we analyzed the medical records of 202 elderly outpatients with NVAF aged between 65 and 74 years (mean ± SD: 68.7 ± 10.2 years). 

 

Results: Problems associated with warfarin arose throughout the follow-up period. After 1 month of treatment, the number of patients taking warfarin had decreased to 71.3% of all patients; less than half of the patients (46%) were still taking the drug. In subsequent periods, the number continued to decrease; of all patients who had been prescribed warfarin with periodic international normalized ratio (INR) control, only 19 (9.4%) remained after 1 year. Our study revealed inadequate anticoagulation therapy in elderly patients, probably because most patients refused warfarin therapy because they could not control their INR. Moreover, significantly more rural residents than urban residents refused therapy (48 vs. 22; p < 0.05). Doctors underprescribed anticoagulants because they feared hemorrhagic complications in their patients.

 

Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that anticoagulants were underprescribed at the outpatient stage in centers of family medicine in our country. The main drug of choice for specialists remains warfarin, which only provides adequate therapy in a small number of patients (9.4%).
ANCA Associated vasculitis- A case of microscopic polyangiitis with proliferative glomerulonephritis
Authors: Akshaya R.C. , Sathyanarayanan R. , Narasimhalu C.R.V. , Sulochana Sonti
Published: October 2021

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) are a collection of diseases, characterised by destruction and inflammation of small and medium vessels. Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) is part of an ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV).The clinical signs diverge and disturba number of organs such as the kidneys, lungs, stomach and intestine. Skin manifestations such as purpuric, urticarial, nodular, ulcerative, livedoid and necrotic skin lesions were common as in other vaso-occlusive disorder. Morphology and added features aid the diagnostic approach. Here, we report a diagnostically challenging case of microscopic polyangiitis with progressive glomerulonephritis.
Marzo
Authors: Editor El
Published: October 2021

No hay resúmenes disponibles.

ECA Estudios Centroamericanos, Vol. 55, No. 617, 2000: 321-327.
Abril
Authors: Editor El
Published: October 2021

No hay resúmenes disponibles.

ECA Estudios Centroamericanos, Vol. 55, No. 618, 2000: 457-462.
Cuarto trimestre de 1998. Primera parte
Authors: Soriano Rodríguez Salvador Héctor
Published: October 2021

No hay resúmenes disponibles.

ECA Estudios Centroamericanos, Vol. 55, No. 618, 2000: 463-468.
Modern methods of navigation monitoring and positioning of agricultural machinery
Authors: Bedarev Ivan , Tikhonovskiy Vitaly , Tikhonovskaya Ksenia , Blynskiy Yuri
Published: October 2021

The article considers the state of transport monitoring systems used in agricultural production. The urgency of the problem is explained by the need to increase the profitability of enterprises of the agricultural complex. An effective way to solve the problem is strict control of the operation of transport used in the technological process of agricultural production in order to optimize and increase the efficiency of its operation. The direct dependence of the profitability of an agricultural enterprise on the monitoring of transport is considered and justified. To illustrate, the results of a survey conducted in 2020 by the staff of the Center for Forecasting and Monitoring of the Kuban State Agrarian University are used. It is concluded that monitoring systems make it possible to rationalize the process of cultivating arable land and significantly reduce fuel costs, and agricultural enterprises that do not use digital transformation technologies lose out in the competition to more modern companies. Keywords: AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS, MONITORING, POSITIONING, TRANSPORT, AGRICULTURE, GLONASS, GPS
No Permits, No Fabs: The Importance of Regulatory Reform for Semiconductor Manufacturing
Authors: VerWey John
Published: October 2021

Congress has advanced legislation to appropriate $52 billion in funding for the CHIPS for America Act, which aims to increase semiconductor manufacturing and supply chain resilience in the United States. But more can be done to improve the resiliency of U.S. access to microelectronics beyond manufacturing incentives. This report outlines infrastructure investments and regulatory reforms that could make the United States a more attractive place to build new chipmaking capacity and ensure continued U.S. access to key inputs for semiconductor manufacturing.
Mixed-horizon optimal feedback control as a model of human movement
Authors: Česonis Justinas , Franklin David W.
Published: October 2021

Computational optimal feedback control (OFC) models in the sensorimotor control literature span a vast range of different implementations. Among the popular algorithms, finite-horizon, receding-horizon or infinite-horizon linear-quadratic regulators (LQR) have been broadly used to model human reaching movements. While these different implementations have their unique merits, all three have limitations in simulating the temporal evolution of visuomotor feedback responses. Here we propose a novel approach - a mixed-horizon OFC - by combining the strengths of the traditional finite-horizon and the infinite-horizon controllers to address their individual limitations. Specifically, we use the infinite-horizon OFC to generate durations of the movements, which are then fed into the finite-horizon controller to generate control gains. We then demonstrate the stability of our model by performing extensive sensitivity analysis of both re-optimisation and different cost functions. Finally, we use our model to provide a fresh look to previously published studies by reinforcing the previous results, providing alternative explanations to previous studies, or generating new predictive results for prior experiments.
Exploring the sensitivity of atmospheric nitrate concentrations to nitric acid uptake rate using the Met Office's Unified Model
Authors: Jones Anthony C. , Hill Adrian , Remy Samuel , Abraham N. Luke , Dalvi Mohit , Hardacre Catherine , Hewitt Alan J. , Johnson Ben , Mulcahy Jane P. , Turnock Steven T.
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Ammonium nitrate is a major aerosol constituent over many land regions and
contributes to air pollution episodes, ecosystem destruction, regional haze,
and aerosol-induced climate forcing. Many climate models that represent
ammonium nitrate assume that the ammonium–sulfate–nitrate chemistry reaches
thermodynamic equilibrium instantaneously without considering kinetic
limitations on condensation rates. The Met Office's Unified Model (UM) is
employed to investigate the sensitivity of ammonium nitrate concentrations
to the nitric acid uptake coefficient (γ) in a newly developed
nitrate scheme in which first-order condensation theory is utilised to limit
the rate at which thermodynamic equilibrium is attained. Two values of
γ representing fast (γ=0.193) and slow (γ=0.001) uptake rates are tested in 20-year global UM integrations. The global burden of nitrate associated with ammonium in the “fast” simulation (0.11 Tg[N]) is twice as great as in the “slow” simulation (0.05 Tg[N]), while the top-of-the-atmosphere radiative impact of representing nitrate is −0.19 W m−2 in the fast simulation and −0.07 W m−2 in the slow simulation. In general, the fast simulation exhibits better spatial
correlation with observed nitrate concentrations, while the slow simulation
better resolves the magnitude of concentrations. Local near-surface nitrate
concentrations are found to be highly correlated with seasonal ammonia
emissions, suggesting that ammonia is the predominant limiting factor
controlling nitrate prevalence. This study highlights the high sensitivity
of ammonium nitrate concentrations to nitric acid uptake rates and provides
a novel mechanism for reducing nitrate concentration biases in climate model
simulations. The new UM nitrate scheme represents a step change in aerosol
modelling capability in the UK across weather and climate timescales.
Retrieving microphysical properties of concurrent pristine ice and snow using polarimetric radar observations
Authors: Kedzuf Nicholas J. , Chiu J. Christine , Chandrasekar V. , Biswas Sounak , Joshil Shashank S. , Lu Yinghui , van Leeuwen Peter Jan , Westbrook Christopher , Blanchard Yann , O'Shea Sebastian
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Ice and mixed-phase clouds play a key role in our climate
system because of their strong controls on global precipitation and
radiation budget. Their microphysical properties have been characterized
commonly by polarimetric radar measurements. However, there remains a lack
of robust estimates of microphysical properties of concurrent pristine ice
and aggregates because larger snow aggregates often dominate the radar
signal and mask contributions of smaller pristine ice crystals. This paper
presents a new method that separates the scattering signals of pristine ice
embedded in snow aggregates in scanning polarimetric radar observations and
retrieves their respective abundances and sizes for the first time. This
method, dubbed ENCORE-ice, is built on an iterative stochastic ensemble
retrieval framework. It provides the number concentration, ice water content,
and effective mean diameter of pristine ice and snow aggregates with
uncertainty estimates. Evaluations against synthetic observations show that
the overall retrieval biases in the combined total microphysical properties
are within 5 % and that the errors with respect to the truth are well
within the retrieval uncertainty. The partitioning between pristine ice and
snow aggregates also agrees well with the truth. Additional evaluations
against in situ cloud probe measurements from a recent campaign for a
stratiform cloud system are promising. Our median retrievals have a bias of
98 % in the total ice number concentration and 44 % in the total ice water
content. This performance is generally better than the retrieval from
empirical relationships. The ability to separate signals of different ice
species and to provide their quantitative microphysical properties will open up
many research opportunities, such as secondary ice production studies and
model evaluations for ice microphysical processes.
Photosynthetic activity in Devonian Foraminifera
Authors: Dubicka Zofia , Gajewska Maria , Kozłowski Wojciech , Hallock Pamela , Hohenegger Johann
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Photosynthetically active foraminifera are prolific carbonate
producers in warm, sunlit, surface waters of the oceans. Foraminifera have
repeatedly developed mixotrophic strategies (i.e., the ability of an
organism or holobiont to both feed and photosynthesize) by facultative or
obligate endosymbiosis with microalgae or by sequestering plastids
(kleptoplasts) of ingested algae. Mixotrophy provides access to essential
nutrients (e.g., N, P) through feeding while providing carbohydrates and
lipids produced through photosynthesis, resulting in substantial energetic
advantage in warm, sunlit environments where food and dissolved nutrients
are scarce. Our morphological as well as stable carbon isotope data provide,
as of now, the earliest (Mid-Devonian) evidence for photosynthetic activity
in the first advanced, multichambered, calcareous foraminifera,
Semitextularia, from the tropical shelf of the Laurussia paleocontinent. This adaptation
likely influenced the evolutionary radiation of calcareous Foraminifera in
the Devonian (“Givetian revolution”), one of the most important
evolutionary events in foraminiferal history, that coincided with the
worldwide development of diverse calcifying marine communities inhabiting
shelf environments linked with Devonian stromatoporoid coral reefs.
Model simulations of arctic biogeochemistry and permafrost extent are highly sensitive to the implemented snow scheme in LPJ-GUESS
Authors: Pongracz Alexandra , Wårlind David , Miller Paul A. , Parmentier Frans-Jan W.
Published: October 2021

Abstract. The Arctic is warming rapidly, especially in winter, which is causing large-scale reductions in snow cover. Snow is one of the main controls on soil
thermodynamics, and changes in its thickness and extent affect both permafrost thaw and soil biogeochemistry. Since soil respiration during the cold
season potentially offsets carbon uptake during the growing season, it is essential to achieve a realistic simulation of the effect of snow cover on
soil conditions to more accurately project the direction of arctic carbon–climate feedbacks under continued winter warming. The Lund–Potsdam–Jena General Ecosystem Simulator (LPJ-GUESS) dynamic vegetation model has used – up until now – a single layer snow scheme,
which underestimated the insulation effect of snow, leading to a cold bias in soil temperature. To address this shortcoming, we developed and
integrated a dynamic, multi-layer snow scheme in LPJ-GUESS. The new snow scheme performs well in simulating the insulation of snow at hundreds of
locations across Russia compared to observations. We show that improving this single physical factor enhanced simulations of permafrost extent
compared to an advanced permafrost product, where the overestimation of permafrost cover decreased from 10 % to 5 % using the new snow
scheme. Besides soil thermodynamics, the new snow scheme resulted in a doubled winter respiration and an overall higher vegetation carbon content. This study highlights the importance of a correct representation of snow in ecosystem models to project biogeochemical processes that govern climate
feedbacks. The new dynamic snow scheme is an essential improvement in the simulation of cold season processes, which reduces the uncertainty of
model projections. These developments contribute to a more realistic simulation of arctic carbon–climate feedbacks.
Southern Ocean bottom-water cooling and ice sheet expansion during the middle Miocene climate transition
Authors: Leutert Thomas J. , Modestou Sevasti , Bernasconi Stefano M. , Meckler A. Nele
Published: October 2021

Abstract. The middle Miocene climate transition (MMCT), around 14 Ma, was associated with a significant climatic shift, but the
mechanisms triggering the event remain enigmatic. We present a clumped isotope (Δ47) bottom-water temperature (BWT) record from 16.0 to
12.2 Ma from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 747 in the Southern Ocean and compare it to existing BWT records from different
latitudes. We show that BWTs in the Southern Ocean reached 8–10 ∘C during the Miocene climatic optimum. These high BWT values indicate considerably warmer bottom-water conditions than today. Nonetheless, bottom-water δ18O (calculated from foraminiferal δ18O and Δ47) suggests substantial amounts of land ice throughout the interval of the study. Our dataset further demonstrates that BWTs at Site 747 were variable with an overall cooling trend across the MMCT. Notably, a cooling of around 3–5 ∘C preceded the stepped main increase in benthic δ18O, interpreted as global ice volume expansion, and appears to have been followed
by a transient bottom-water warming starting during or slightly after the main ice volume increase. We speculate that a regional freshening of the
upper water column at this time may have increased stratification and reduced bottom-water heat loss to the atmosphere, counteracting global cooling
in the bottom waters of the Southern Ocean and possibly even at larger scales. Feedbacks required for substantial ice growth and/or tectonic
processes may have contributed to the observed decoupling of global ice volume and Southern Ocean BWT.
An 18S V4 rRNA metabarcoding dataset of protist diversity in the Atlantic inflow to the Arctic Ocean, through the year and down to 1000 m depth
Authors: Egge Elianne , Elferink Stephanie , Vaulot Daniel , John Uwe , Bratbak Gunnar , Larsen Aud , Edvardsen Bente
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Arctic marine protist communities have been understudied due to challenging sampling conditions, in particular during winter and in deep waters. The aim of this study was to improve our knowledge on Arctic protist diversity through the year, in both the epipelagic (< 200 m depth) and mesopelagic zones (200–1000 m depth). Sampling campaigns were performed in 2014, during five different months, to capture the various phases of the Arctic primary production: January (winter), March (pre-bloom), May (spring bloom), August (post-bloom), and November (early winter). The cruises were undertaken west and north of the Svalbard archipelago, where warmer Atlantic waters from the West Spitsbergen Current meet cold Arctic waters from the Arctic Ocean. From each cruise, station, and depth, 50 L of seawater was collected, and the plankton was size-fractionated by serial filtration into four size fractions between 0.45–200 µm, representing picoplankton (0.45–3 µm), small and large nanoplankton (3–10 and 10–50 µm, respectively), and microplankton (50–200 µm). In addition, vertical net hauls were taken from 50 m depth to the surface at selected stations. The net hauls were fractionated into the large nanoplankton (10–50 µm) and microplankton (50–200 µm) fractions. From the plankton samples DNA was extracted, the V4 region of the 18S rRNA-gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with universal eukaryote primers, and the amplicons were sequenced by Illumina high-throughput sequencing. Sequences were clustered into amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), representing protist genotypes, with the dada2 pipeline. Taxonomic classification was made against the curated Protist Ribosomal Reference database (PR2).
Altogether, 6536 protist ASVs were obtained (including 54 fungal ASVs). Both ASV richness and taxonomic composition varied between size fractions, seasons, and depths. ASV richness was generally higher in the smaller fractions and higher in winter and the mesopelagic samples than in samples from the well-lit epipelagic zone during summer. During spring and summer, the phytoplankton groups diatoms, chlorophytes, and haptophytes dominated in terms of relative read abundance in the epipelagic zone. Parasitic and heterotrophic groups such as Syndiniales and certain dinoflagellates dominated in the mesopelagic zone all year, as well as in the epipelagic zone during the winter. The dataset is available at https://doi.org/10.17882/79823 (Egge et al., 2014).
Place quality in high-speed rail station areas: Concept definition
Authors: Du Jinglun , Druta Oana , Van Wesemael Pieter
Published: October 2021

High-speed railway (HSR) station areas are expected to benefit urban environments, not simply as transportation or economic hubs but also as urban places contributing to living quality. However, the relationship between HSR and place quality has not received systematic attention, despite the evolution of urban planning paradigms toward a clearer focus on quality of life. We have reviewed 44 academic articles written between 1996 and 2019 and analyzed concepts of place quality spanning the disciplines of urban design, urban planning, and urban economics. We identified three dimensions commonly associated with quality of place: a spatial dimension associated with aesthetic qualities of urban spaces; a socio-cultural dimension associated with experienced “sense of place”; and an economic dimension associated with the agglomeration of economic activities. Then we worked out these three dimensions in the context of HSR station areas and attributed features accordingly. We concluded that the economic dimension far outweighs the others in academic debates, with dominant theories being primarily concerned with land use, accessibility, and economic performance. Studies from the urban design field have tackled the spatial elements of place quality and showed a strong correlation with economic dimension. However, the literature remains insufficiently developed when it comes to addressing user experience and “sense of place.”
Retoryczna teoria ideologii w kontekście studiów nad grami wideo na przykładzie gry Until Dawn. Zachęta do refleksji
Authors: Androsiuk Łukasz
Published: October 2021

W kontekście refleksji nad grami wideo słowo „ideologia” odmieniane bywa przez wszystkie przypadki. Nie zmienia to jednak faktu, że pojęciu temu badacze nada-ją niekiedy różne (i nierzadko trudne do pogodzenia ze sobą) znaczenia, przez co na różne sposoby też rozumiana bywa refleksja nad ewentualną ideologicznością samych gier. Niniejszy tekst jest próbą spopularyzowania na gruncie ludologii/game studies tzw. retorycznej teorii ideologii, która stanowić może kolejną i być może równie cenną poznawczo odpowiedź na pytanie, jak refleksję taką uprawiać.
Ambiente acadêmico brasileiro: branquidade e exclusão de direitos dos estudantes negros
Authors: Santos Sales Augusto dos
Published: October 2021

O presente artigo visa a compreender por que os membros do Conselho de Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão (CEPE) da Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) impuseram uma forma de operacionalização à Comissão de Verificação de Autodeclaração Étnico-Racial (CVAER) da instituição que, simultânea e contraditoriamente, impediu o ingresso fraudulento dealguns estudantes brancos nas vagas das subcotas étnico-raciais destinadas aos estudantes pretos, pardos e indígenas, que era o objetivo da referida comissão, mas também permitiu o ingresso de dezenas de estudantes brancos nessas vagas. Por meio de fatos, dados e argumentos consistentes e plausíveis, sustenta-se a hipótese de que a tomada de decisão dos membros do CEPE foi em virtude da branquidade, isto é, do privilégio racial (branco) dos conselheiros desse órgão da universidade.
Politics or Bureaucratic Failures? Understanding the Dynamics of Policy Failures in Democratic Governance
Authors: Park Sanghee
Published: October 2021

This study seeks to advance our understanding of policy failures as the nexus of politics and bureaucratic failure. In doing so, it presents a typology to illustrate different types of policy failures by the degree of bureaucratic capacities and politics/political incentives involved in a policy problem, and explores two cases of such failures in South Korea. This study claims that policy failures are joint products of political and bureaucratic failures to varying degrees and that the discussion of both sides helps to enhance accountability and avoid political blame games and bureau-bashing.
This study reflects on two Korean cases to demonstrate politically-driven and administratively-driven failures in the high- and low-capacity bureaucracy and their consequences. These cases also reveal the dynamic nature of policy failures moving from one category to another during the policy processes.
The first case concerns the failure in emergency response of the Korea Coast Guard (KCG) during and after the sinking of the ferry MV Sewol. A low bureaucratic capacity and lack of motivation to fulfill their function may be the direct cause of the failure, which will be the focus of the discussion of bureaucratic failure. Yet, it also reveals aspects of political failures before and after the accident, where politicians have failed to provide a bureaucratic agency with autonomy and stacked the deck against a less salient agency for political or electoral gains.
The second case discusses the politics of preliminary feasibility studies (PFS) required for major public projects. This case explores policy failures uniquely manifested in a highly capable bureaucracy, which shows how politics-laden issues plant the seeds of policy failures driven by the prompt implementation of flawed decisions. The discussion section further discusses key arguments and implications drawn from the case studies. The final section offers concluding thoughts and avenues for future research.
Manganese Schiff Base Immobilized on Graphene Oxide Complex and Its Catalysis for Epoxidation of Styrene
Authors: Shuisheng Wu Shuisheng Wu , Donghui Lan Donghui Lan , Nianyuan Tan Nianyuan Tan , Ran Wang Ran Wang , Chak Tong Au Chak Tong Au , Bing Yi Bing Yi
Published: October 2021

Immobilization of metal complexes on solid supports is an efficient approach to circumvent the drawbacks of homogeneous catalysis. In this paper, using graphene oxide as carrier, manganese Schiff base supported on graphene oxide (Salen Mn-GO) was prepared through aminosilane covalent modification as well as salicylaldehyde condensation and coordination reaction. The structures and properties of the composite were examined by FT-IR, XRD, XPS, TEM, TG techniques, and the catalytic performance of Salen Mn-GO in styrene epoxidation was explored. The effects of catalyst and styrene amount as well as that of reaction time on the performance of the catalyst were investigated. The results showed that Salen Mn-GO has excellent catalytic activity and reusability for epoxidation of styrene in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Finally, the mechanism of styrene epoxidation catalyzed by Salen Mn-GO has been preliminarily discussed.
Effective weed management practices to control complex weed flora in different cultivars of hybrid and high yielding varieties of rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors:   Regional Research Sub Station (OAZ), Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mathurapur, Malda-732 202, West Bengal, India, Biswas Paramita , Ghosh Ratikanta ,   Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia – 741 252, West Bengal, India
Published: October 2021

A field experiment was conducted during Summer and Kharif seasons of 2007-08 and 2008-09 at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal, India to study the effect of hand weeding and Pretilachlor 50 EC @ 500 g a.i. ha-1 as pre-emergence on weed management of different varieties of hybrid and high yielding rice. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications for both the years. It has been observed that Pretilachlor 50 EC @ 500 g a.i. ha-1 has a significant effect to control complex weed flora both in hybrid and high yielding varieties of rice but hand weeding twice gave the better result as expected. Among the varieties, the hybrid varieties recorded 36% and 32% more grain yield in Summer and Kharif seasons respectively than high yielding varieties (HYV). The high yielding variety 6444 (V2) showed more grain yield during Summer and Kharif seasons than that of the hybrid 6129 (V1), 97158 (V6), and 96110 (V3), respectively. Regarding weed management, hand weeding twice recorded (13% & 36%) higher grain yield during Summer than that of the chemical treatment and unweeded check, and (20% & 42%) during Kharif seasons respectively. Among the interaction, hand weeding combined with all varieties of hybrid rice recorded higher yield in comparison to other treatment combinations.
Pedicled Anterolateral Thigh Flap As A Workhourse Flap for Reconstruction of Inguino-Scrotal Defects
Authors: Sharma Mukesh , Kumar Naveen , Babu V Suman
Published: October 2021

Background: Reconstructions around inguinoscrotal region has been a challenging task owing to complex anatomy. There are variety of flap options available for reconstruction of Inguinoscrotal region. Our study was done to evaluate the use of pedicled anterolateral thigh flap for reconstruction of defects around inguinoscrotal regions. Methodology: In this study a total of 18 patients with various types of defects around inguinoscrotal region were evaluated. The etiology of defects included trauma (𝑛=6), infection (𝑛=8), malignancy (𝑛=2) and burn (𝑛=2). Patients were evaluated in terms of viability of the flap, number of perforators included, pedicled length and flap dimensions and donor site morbidity. Results: All flaps were survived well except 1 flap develop venous congestion in immediate post operative period due to tension over vascular pedicle which was managed by increasing pedicle length. 2 patients had developed partial loss of the skin graft at the donor site which got healed secondarily in due course. All patients were followed up for an average period of 6 months, ranging from 1 to 12 months. Donor site morbidity was minimal. Conclusion: Pedicled ALT flap is a versatile, reliable flap, with wide arc of rotation which makes it as an ideal flap for the coverage of defects around inguinoscrotal region.
Why do we need 6G?
Authors: Riccardo Bassoli  , Frank H.P. Fitzek  , Emilio Calvanese Strinati
Published: October 2021

The study and design of 5G seems to have reached its end and 5G communication systems are currently under deployment. In parallel, 5G standardization is as Release 16, which is going to complete the definition and the design guidelines of the 5G radio access network. Because of that, the interest of the scientific and industrial communities has already started focusing on the future 6G communication networks. The preliminary definition of future technology trends towards 2030, given by major standardization bodies, and the flagship 6G projects worldwide have started proposing various visions about what 6G will be. Side by side, various scientific articles, addressing the initial characterisation of 6G, have also been published. However, considering the promises of 5G, can 6G represent a significant technological advancement to justify a so-called new generation? In fact, now, 5G softwarized networks may just imply continuous network software upgrades (as it happens for the Internet) instead of new generations every ten years. This article starts describing the main characteristics that made 5G a breakthrough in telecommunications, also briefly introducing the network virtualisation and computing paradigms that have reformed telecommunications. Next, by providing rigorous definition of the terminology and a survey of the principal 6G visions proposed, the paper tries to establish important motivations and characteristics that can really justify the need for and the novelty of future 6G communication networks.
Lysis chatbot: A virtual assistant for IoT platforms
Authors: Raimondo Cossu  , Roberto Girau  , Luigi Atzori
Published: October 2021

The configuration and management of devices and applications in Internet of Things (IoT) platforms may be very complicated for a user, which may limit the usage of relevant functionalities and which does not allow its full potential to be exploited. To address this issue, in this paper we present a new chatbot which is intended to assist the user in interacting with an IoT platform and allow them to use and exploit its full potential. The requirements for a user-centric design of the chatbot are first analyzed, then a proper solution is designed which exploits a serverless approach and makes extensive use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. The developed chatbot is integrated with Telegram to message between the user and the Lysis IoT platform. The performance of the developed chatbot is analyzed to assess its effectiveness when accessing the platform, set the main devices' parameters and request data of interest.
Site-specific millimeter-wave compressive channel estimation algorithms with hybrid MIMO architectures
Authors: Sai Subramanyam Thoota  , Dolores Garcia Marti  , �zlem Tugfe Demir  , Rakesh Mundlamuri  , Joan Palacios  , Cenk M. Yetis  , Christo Kurisummoottil Thomas  , Sameera H. Bharadwaja  , Emil Bj�rnson  , Pontus Giselsson  , Marios Kountouris  , Chandra R. Murthy  , Nuria Gonz�lez-Prelcic  , Joerg Widmer
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we present and compare three novel model-cum-data-driven channel estimation procedures in a millimeter-wave Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) wireless communication system. The transceivers employ a hybrid analog-digital architecture. We adapt techniques from a wide range of signal processing methods, such as detection and estimation theories, compressed sensing, and Bayesian inference, to learn the unknown virtual beamspace domain dictionary, as well as the delay-and-beamspace sparse channel. We train the model-based algorithms with a site-specific training dataset generated using a realistic ray tracing-based wireless channel simulation tool. We assess the performance of the proposed channel estimation algorithms with the same site's test data. We benchmark the performance of our novel procedures in terms of normalized mean squared error against an existing fast greedy method and empirically show that model-based approaches combined with data-driven customization unanimously outperform the state-of-the-art techniques by a large margin. The proposed algorithms were selected as the top three solutions in the "ML5G-PHY Channel Estimation Global Challenge 2020" organized by the International Telecommunication Union.
RF-based low-SNR classification of UAVs using convolutional neural networks
Authors: Ender Ozturk  , Fatih Erden  , Ismail Guvenc
Published: October 2021

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, which can be considered as a coverage extender for Internet of Everything (IoE), have drawn high attention recently. The proliferation of drones will raise privacy and security concerns in public. This paper investigates the problem of classification of drones from Radio Frequency (RF) fingerprints at the low Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) regime. We use Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) trained with both RF time-series images and the spectrograms of 15 different off-the-shelf drone controller RF signals. When using time-series signal images, the CNN extracts features from the signal transient and envelope. As the SNR decreases, this approach fails dramatically because the information in the transient is lost in the noise, and the envelope is distorted heavily. In contrast to time-series representation of the RF signals, with spectrograms, it is possible to focus only on the desired frequency interval, i.e., 2.4 GHz ISM band, and filter out any other signal component outside of this band. These advantages provide a notable performance improvement over the time-series signals-based methods. To further increase the classification accuracy of the spectrogram-based CNN, we denoise the spectrogram images by truncating them to a limited spectral density interval. Creating a single model using spectrogram images of noisy signals and tuning the CNN model parameters, we achieve a classification accuracy varying from 92% to 100% for an SNR range from -10 dB to 30 dB, which significantly outperforms the existing approaches to our best knowledge.
Graph-neural-network-based delay estimation for communication networks with heterogeneous scheduling policies
Authors: Martin Happ  , Matthias Herlich  , Christian Maier  , Jia Lei Du  , Peter Dorfinger
Published: October 2021

Modeling communication networks to predict performance such as delay and jitter is important for evaluating and optimizing them. In recent years, neural networks have been used to do this, which may have advantages over existing models, for example from queueing theory. One of these neural networks is RouteNet, which is based on graph neural networks. However, it is based on simplified assumptions. One key simplification is the restriction to a single scheduling policy, which describes how packets of different flows are prioritized for transmission. In this paper we propose a solution that supports multiple scheduling policies (Strict Priority, Deficit Round Robin, Weighted Fair Queueing) and can handle mixed scheduling policies in a single communication network. Our solution is based on the RouteNet architecture as part of the "Graph Neural Network Challenge". We achieved a mean absolute percentage error under 1% with our extended model on the evaluation data set from the challenge. This takes neural-network-based delay estimation one step closer to practical use.
Stagnation-Point Flow of Magneto-Williamson Nanofluid over a Stretching Material with Ohmic Heating and Entropy Analysis
Authors:   Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Nigeria, Fatunmbi Ephesus , Mabood Fazle ,   Department of Information Technology, Fanshawe College London, ON Canada, Adeniyan Adetunji ,   Department of Mathematics, University of Lagos, Nigeria
Published: October 2021

This study communicates stagnation-point flow in magneto-Williamson nanofluid along a convectively heated nonlinear stretchable material in a porous medium. The impacts of Joule heating, thermophoresis together with Brownian motion are also checked in this investigation. In addition, thermodynamic second law is applied to develop entropy generation analysis of crucial parameters with identification of parameters capable of minimizing energy loss in the system. The transport equations are simplified into ordinary differential equations and then integrated numerically using Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg with shooting technique. The effects of the emerging parameters on the dimensionless velocity, temperature, concentration and entropy generation number are publicized through tables and graphs with appropriate discussions. In the limiting conditions, the results are found to conform accurately with published studies in the literature. It is found that the viscous drag can be reduced by lowering the magnitude of Weissenberg number, magnetic field and Darcy parameters while heat transfer at the surface improves in the presence of surface convection, temperature ratio and thermal radiation parameters. Besides, the analysis reveals that entropy generation can be minimized by lowering the magnitude of magnetic field, Schmidt number and surface convection parameters. The reduction in these parameters will promote efficient performance of thermal devices. More so, the results obtained in this study can be useful for the construction of appropriate thermal devices for use in energy and electronic devices.
Adsorption of methylene blue dye by different methods of obtaining shrimp residue chitin
Authors: Otto Iliane Muller , Morselli Luiza Beatriz Gamboa Araújo , Bunde Dienifer Aline Braun , Pieniz Simone , Quadro Maurízio Silveira , Andreazza Robson
Published: October 2021

The textile industry, very important for the world economy, generates an effluent containing dyes, and which, when discarded in water bodies without proper treatment, can cause impacts to human health and the environment. One of these widely used dyes is methylene blue, whose characteristics are high solubility in water and its toxic potential, and which effects range from eye irritations, nausea, vomiting and even mental confusion. Among the potential adsorbents of this dye is chitin, which is a biopolymer extracted from the shrimp exoskeleton. Aiming at the development of a low-cost adsorbent material with potential use in the textile effluent treatment industry, the ability to remove methylene blue dye by shrimp residue chitin, obtained by eleven different methodologies, was verified. The three most efficient treatments reached approximately 75% of dye removal, proving the high adsorption power of shrimp residue. In addition to providing technological development of materials, the research brings socioeconomic benefits to the fishermen’s colony with the use of shrimp residue for the adsorption of other waste from the textile industry, contributing to the sustainability of both activities and reducing the environmental impact.
INNOVATIVE TEACHING METHODS FOR BLENDED LEARNING UNDER NEW EDUCATION POLICY, 2020: A FUTURE PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Singhal Surabhi , Singhal Amit , Tulsian P.C. , Mittal Neelam
Published: October 2021

India’s New Education Policy, 2020 aims to revamp our education system completely. One of the key features of this policy is increased use of technology and teaching through on-line resources along with traditional face-to-face mode. This type of blended learning calls for innovation in the teaching and learning process. One of the innovative teaching methods is through the use of movies in the classroom. This article presents an innovative way of teaching Management Courses through the use of a movie. The exercise used for this purpose aims to teach the Expectancy Theory of Motivation through short movie clips, discussion prompts, group discussion and a comparison debrief. The exercise has been found useful in increasing the students’ engagement level in class along with a better understanding of the underlying concepts in the theory. It is recommended that such innovative methods which use technology and on-line resources should be incorporated into the teaching and learning process for achieving the objectives laid out in the New Education Policy, 2020.
COVID-19 AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW: COMPULSORY LICENSING AND THE ACCESS TO COVID-19 TREATMENT
Authors: Correia de Oliveira Anaísa
Published: October 2021

This essay concerns the problematic of the access to Covid-19 treatment at an international scale and the role of Intellectual Property Law. As in past outbreaks, one of the most raised questions is the possibility of patent holder’s rights being an obstacle to the access to treatment. Since the beginning of this pandemic, Compulsory Licensing has been presented as the mechanism capable to guaranteeing Covid-19 treatment globally and rapidly. We propose to analyse this figure and its possible alternatives - Voluntary Licensing, Patent Pools and the Proposal to waive TRIPS Intellectual Property provision. We will then assess which is the most effective solution to overcome this humanitarian crisis without compromising the balance between the right to health and intellectual property rights.
ANTOLOGIA NACIONAL: O PAPEL DO TEXTO LITERÁRIO NO ENSINO DE LÍNGUA MATERNA
Authors: Daniela Porte
Published: October 2021

O presente trabalho objetiva analisar, à luz da teoria de Eugenio Coseriu, a importância do texto literário para o ensino da língua materna, observando o papel a ele atribuído no período de adoção do compêndio didático Antologia Nacional, de Fausto Barreto e Carlos de Laet (1945). Ao mesmo tempo, busca evidenciar as mudanças desse percurso na educação contemporânea e suas consequências para formação do alunado.
Allergy and obesity in children: is there any link?
Authors: Migacheva Natalia Begievna , Rakcheeva Dariia Alekseevna , Skvortsova Olga Viktorovna , Mikhailova Evgeniia Gennadevna
Published: October 2021

The steady increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in the population, including obesity and allergic diseases, dictates the need to study both common causal factors and mechanisms of their development, and to search for new effective treatment and prevention strategies. However the resultsof epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory studies are still inconclusive, especially in pediatric population. In this review we present and discuss current data that may help to understand the possible relationship and mechanisms of mutual influence of allergy and obesity in children.
The main aspects of the immunopathogenesis of atopic dermatitis in children
Authors: Pobezhimova Olga Olegovna , Zhestkov Alexander Viktorovich
Published: October 2021

Research objective
Atopic dermatitis (AtD) is the earliest and most frequent manifestation of the body’s hypersensitivity reaction to environmental allergens. Often manifested in severe form, affecting the skin, can occur in early infancy, childhood. The disease is genetically determined and is chronic. AtD is one of the most common skin diseases (from 20 to 40% in the structure of skin diseases), which occurs in all countries in people of both sexes. In recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of AtD throughout the world. The disease is more common in highly developed countries and cities (less commonly in rural areas).
AtD significantly reduces the quality of life of children, causing psychological discomfort and disrupting their social adaptation. AtD in children is a risk factor for the «atopic march» — the further sequential development of other allergic diseases: allergic rhinitis, pollinosis, allergic conjunctivitis, bronchial asthma. With a reduced immune response of the body, AtD in children can be complicated by the addition of a secondary infection (bacterial, viral, fungal). Such a high incidence rate, a debut in early childhood, a frequently recurring course of the pathological process, and a tendency towards an increase in the forms of the disease resistant to traditional therapy make the details of the pathogenesis of AtD particularly relevant. One of the main roles in the pathogenesis of AtD belongs to the cells of the immune system.
The purpose of this article: to systematize the information available today on the immunopathogenesis of atopic dermatitis.