bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Infrastructure Facilities for Unmanned Vehicles
Authors: Kremlev I. A. , Tyryshkin A. V.
Published: September 2019

The article considers the technological aspects of creating infrastructure facilities for organization of movement of unmanned vehicles on the roads. The features of operation of cars with an autonomous control system inRussiaand other regions of the world are analyzed. Basing on the study, the authors offer a fundamentally new approach for solving a problem of recognizing objects along the route of unmanned vehicles.The study suggests installation of stationary points that are interconnected in a single network and exchange data with the cloud storage. The effectiveness of existing and alternative systems is evaluated.
The soils of the Carpathian region of Ukraine as objects of scientific tourism
Authors: Hamkalo Mykhailo , Romaniv Pavlo
Published: September 2019

Scientific tourism includes ecological, ethnocultural, underwater, cognitive one and many other types of tourism, the main feature of which is active participation of tourists in the tour, and not just acquisition of interesting information and contemplation of objects, which is characteristic for cognitive tourism. The interest in the soil cover of the general population by means of tourist (economical) management is considered as a step towards preservation, recovery of the ecosystem of Carpathian region of Ukraine, especially in the context of the concept of sustainable development. Soil objects of the Carpathian region of Ukraine are characterized by diversity and they significantly differ from each other, therefore brown soil, sod-podzol pseudogleyed soil on the border of Precarpathia and Carpathians, gray forest soil are chosen for the analysis.
Involvement of soil into the system of tourist services is considered in two main directions: separate objects of display on routes and objects of scientific research within stationary scientific and research areas of highly specialized and complex nature. Moreover, these ground objects can be used as motivations for travelling both for wider population of different age groups, for professional use, as well as specialists among geographers, geologists, soil scientists, environmentalists, archaeologists, historians, ethnographers, etc. Soils of Ukrainian Carpathians have an important ecological, economic and social significance. However, consumer attitude to forests leads to negative consequences for the entire ecosystem, including for the “mirror of the landscape” – the soil. Therefore, the study and knowledge of soil by means of tourism, excursion and expeditionary activity pursues a number of important functions: recreational, scientific-cognitive, ecological (the function of protection of nature and its components), educational, didactic, educational, patriotic. After all, without knowledge on soil it is impossible to understand interconnections that are established between components of the ecosystem.
Key words: soils, region, scientific tourism, brown soil, stationary experiment.
Profile degradations of podzolic chernozem of the territory of Male Polissia
Authors: Haskevych Volodymyr
Published: September 2019

The article presents the results of the study of Male Polissia podzolic chernozems profile degradation. The causes and consequences of this dangerous natural and man-made phenomenon resulting in changes in the habitus of soils, losses of soil mass and humus, deterioration of general physical properties and structural and aggregate composition, decrease in soil fertility and agriculture unprofitability on the slopes have been analysed. In the study of the profile degradation of podzolic chernozems, the following methods have been used: comparative-geographical, comparative-profile, soil-catena, analytical, and statistical. Field studies were conducted after the vegetation period.
According to the study results, the thickness of the profile of weakly eroded podzolic chernozems, in comparison with non-eroded types, decreased by 17.0–35.5% as compared to the standard, which corresponds to satisfactory and pre-crisis condition, in medium eroded soils - by 32.2–63.4%, the degree of degradation is estimated as pre-crisis, crisis and catastrophic. In the highly eroded types, the thickness of the soil layer decreased by 47.8–74.9%, which indicates a high and very high (crisis) level of profile degradation. Erosion soil loss compared to the standard in weakly eroded podzolic chernozems is 1245.0-3744.6 t/ha, in medium eroded soil – 6762.4-8321.0 t/ha, and in highly-eroded soil – 8874.0-11595.0 t/ha. It has been established that chernozems as a result of water erosion from one hectare of weakly eroded podzolic, on average 39.47–118.70 tons of humus was eroded, 214.36-237.98 tons was eroded from medium eroded ones, and 240.49-267.84 tons from highly eroded soils. The average annual loss of humus is from 0.23-0.68 t/ha in weakly eroded types to 1.37-1.53 t/ha in highly eroded podzolic chernozems. Erosion processes result in deterioration of physical properties of soils. The use of dense and low-humus plumage horizons for plowing causes compaction of soils and deterioration of structure. Minimization of podzolic chernozem profile degradation in Male Polissia is possible provided that the system of anti-erosion measures, especially the conservation of highly eroded soils, the introduction of soil protection methods for soil cultivation, optimization of the structure of crop areas, ban on cultivated crops on slopes more than 3° steep, consolidation of small areas in larger arrays are applied. It is also necessary to introduce a system of basic and crisis monitoring over the condition of eroded soils.
Key words: Male Polissia, podzolic chernozems, profile degradation, water erosion, humus, soil conservation.
Strategic approaches to solving problems of degradation and restoration of performance and protection of the land of agricultural appointment of the Carpathian region
Authors: Kachmar Oksana , Vavrynovych Oksana , Dubytskyj Oleksandr , Dubytska Angelina , Kotko Natalya
Published: September 2019

The problems of degradation of agricultural land are discovered through the prism of the consequences of their destructive use in modern conditions based on a detailed causal analysis of industrial-economic approaches to the implementation of the earth-resource potential of the Carpathian region. On the basis of the spatial spectral cut of the development of degradation processes in the soils of the region, the main types of anthropogenic transformation were analysed and on the basis of existing materials an attempt was made to evaluate the development of negative phenomena inherent in agriculture as a whole appointment, and specific, concerning their key ecologically sensitive components - sloping, reclaimed lands, agro-lands. Strategic approaches and mechanisms are proposed for solving the problem of degradation and restoration of agricultural land fertility the appointment, the basis of which is: adjusting the structure of the land fund; implementation of environmentally-friendly high efficiency ecologically balanced resource-saving agricultural systems; implementation of in-depth system ecological-landscape monitoring; the development of a holistic integrated zonal-territorial theory of conservation, fertility and soil protection of the Carpathian region. In order to implement the developed strategic approaches, the proposed innovation toolkit, the practical implementation of which will reduce the degradation of land, will contribute to the formation of high-yielding ecologically sustainable agro-landscapes. Innovative tools are the basis of the developed conceptual model of fertility management of agricultural lands of the Carpathian region. Based on the Conceptual Model of Management an Innovative-oriented organizational functional model of the solution of problems of degradation of agricultural land and implementation of the potential for increasing their fertility in the Carpathian region has been formed. The effectiveness of its functioning will be determined by the level of realization of the potential of the basic resource components of the agrarian sector in the region and will be conditioned, on the one hand, by the efficiency of the combination of investment resources of the village commodity producers, innovative resources of the scientific sphere and financial, organizational and information resources of the state; on the other – the introduction of economic mechanisms of efficient resource use.
Key words: Carpathian region, soils, agrolandscapes, degradation, fertility restoration.
Are neoclassic models of internationalization enduring and/or germane? A case-review of the “Uppsalian” reasoning
Authors: Abrantes Bruno
Published: September 2019

Neoclassic theory of internationalization is argued as superannuated by some scholars. In this sense, seminal conceptualizations and theories which pillared the development of this research field, have collected wide criticism, which imposes an introspection about how enduring/germane are they in current times.

Focusing upon one of those models (the Uppsala), this article it illustrates that neoclassicism is not synonym of old-fashioned, with the focal model evolving in its utility and t simultaneously evolving in its rationale (to a capabilisation model for internationalization).
Teachers’ Nonverbal Behaviors Influence Children’s Stereotypic Beliefs
Authors: Brey Elizabeth , Pauker Kristin
Published: September 2019

The current research tested whether differences in teachers’ nonverbal behaviors influence children’s intergroup attitudes and stereotypic beliefs. In this study, 5- to 8-year-old participants (N = 96) were assigned to novel groups (marked by T-shirt color) and then viewed interactions between teachers and pairs of students who were also members of the novel groups. Across four interactions, the teacher directed positive nonverbal behaviors toward students from one group and directed negative nonverbal behaviors toward students from another group. After viewing the interactions, participants were presented with pairs of new students from the two novel groups and were asked three types of test questions. When participants were asked who was smarter, they selected new students from the group that had received positive nonverbal behaviors regardless of their own group membership. However, when asked who they would like to befriend, only participants who were assigned to the group that received positive behaviors selected ingroup members. On trials where participants were asked to select a partner on an academic task, participants’ selections did not differ from chance. This study shows that teachers’ nonverbal behaviors may be one source of children’s academic stereotypes, including negative stereotypes about groups to which they belong. Moreover, these findings highlight the importance of subtle social cues in guiding children’s beliefs about social groups.
Kalkulator BBI dan BMI
Authors: Rivamella Scolastica Gracia Shinta
Published: September 2019

AWK adalah sebuah pemrograman seperti pada shell atau C yang memiliki karakteristik yaitu sebagai tool yang cocok filter/manipulasi Awk adalah penggabungan dari nama lengkap sang author, yaitu : Alfred V. Aho, Peter J. Weinberger dan Brian W. Kernighan. Dengan AWK kita dapat membuat sebuah program aplikasi berbasis linux. Pada laporan ini, aplikasi yang dibuat adalah perhitungan berat badan ideal dan body mass index.
The Different Roads Not Taken: Considering Dissimilar Alternatives Motivates Goal Persistence.
Authors: Kim Hye-young , Urminsky Oleg
Published: September 2019

The previously unchosen options that people consider shapes how they interpret what they didchoose. Beyond previous research showing that foregone alternatives influences consumers’experiences of a chosen option, the current research suggests that how consumers mentallyconstrue goal-inconsistent alternatives they could have chosen impacts how they evaluate theirgoal-consistent choice, which will in turn impact their motivation to continue goal-directedbehaviors subsequently. Specifically, we find that when consumers consider having foregonedissimilar (vs. similar) goal-inconsistent alternatives that they could have chosen instead of thegoal-consistent actions they did take, they believe that they have made higher impact on theiractive goals. As a result, they are then more likely to subsequently make goal-consistent choices.However, considering dissimilar (vs. similar) unchosen options only impacts goal perceptionswhen the focal goal is subjectively important. Our findings hold across different types of goals(saving vs. spending: study 1, donating vs. spending: study 2, healthy vs. tasty food: studies 3 to5), and extend to real choices (study 5).
The Status Quo Theory of Depletion Does not Explain the Israeli Parole Decisions.
Authors: Daljord Øystein , Urminsky Oleg
Published: September 2019

Danziger et al. (2011a) showed that the parole decisions of an Israeli court of parole areinfluenced by judicially extraneous factors such as the time of day the case is heard. It wassuggested in the paper that the cyclical parole frequencies could be explained by a status quotheory of depletion, but it did not test the theory in the data. We first show that the statisticalmodel used in Danziger et al. (2011a) can be interpreted as a behavioral model of a depletionprocess. Under this interpretation, the status quo theory is inconsistent with the reportedresults. The statistical model however imposes a restrictive assumption of depletion processesthat are uniform across judges. Individual specific depletion processes, which is suggested bytheory and supported by the data, affect the measurement of a key test statistic. Allowing forjudge specific depletion processes, the evidence is more mixed, but we find overall little supportfor the status quo theory of depletion.
Conceptualizing and measuring polarization: A review
Authors: Bauer Paul Cornelius
Published: September 2019

The increasingly popular concept of polarization is used to describe various social phenomena such as political, opinion, health and income polarization. Despite this popularity it is still debated within disciplines how polarization should be conceptualized and how it should be measured. In this study I attempt to provide a systematic, interdisciplinary overview of the conceptual and measurement literature on polarization. I first describe the challenge of conceptualizing polarization, a task that requires taking decisions about how to aggregate individual positions on one or more scales. Different distributional aspects may matter and the concept’s meaning is related to the measurement level of the underlying scales. Subsequently, I review various polarization measures that have been developed during the last decades.
Understanding Education Decentralization and 'Sustained' Elite Capture – Explicating Cases From Two Public Schools
Authors: Hamal Sanjay
Published: September 2019

The paper aims at uncovering the practices of educational decentralization in Nepal that started after the restoration of democracy in 1990. Though decentralization in education in Nepal began with the aim of greater community participation and autonomy to the needs and priorities perceived by the local level functionaries in school, it has been subject to elite capture in its governance. Because of control in planning, organization, management, financial liability and different activities for the education system, the paper argues that practices of educational decentralization have been shaped by the local elites who capture the local resources and power to operate the school with their network and 'one-upmanship'. While arguing so, the paper is based on the ethnographic case study of two public schools located in the Mid-Western region of Nepal. Applying the Gramscian concept of hegemony, the paper narrates the process of a 'sustained' selection of the School Management Committee Chairpersons and shows how they negotiate and balance their power to sustain their capture. The paper concludes that the informal mechanisms of individual attributes such as trust and capital are playing an important role in their sustained elitism.
Predatory Journals: A Threat to Scholarly Publishing
Authors: Shrestha Jiban , Subedi Subash , Shokati Behzad , Chaudhary Amit
Published: September 2019

Nowadays the world of scholarly publishing is in serious trouble because of the increasing number of predatory publishing. Besides, citation of articles from predatory journals is also unethical that undermines the quality of research papers. Because of ignorance of predatory publishing and/or compulsion of getting published in a limited time, scholars from Universities and young researchers become victim to predatory or hijacked journals. The purpose of this paper is to create awareness among authors, especially novice ones, about predatory publication. Research institutions should encourage their researchers to publish their articles in valuable journals indexed in Web of Science's Journal Citation Reports (JCR), Clarivate Analytics, formerly part of Thomson-Reuters) or other famous scientific databases such as Scopus, PubMed and MEDLINE. In this way, attention to the Thomson Reuters’ Journal Impact Factor (JIF) and Journal Ranking (JRK) and Scopus grade (Q1, Q2 and Q3) may be useful and necessary.
PROBLEMS OF THE FORMATION OF THE UNITED EUROPEAN TRANSPORT SPACE
Authors: RYBCHUK A.V.
Published: September 2019

Topicality. The relevance of the study is based on the fact that the transport sector of the European Union is at a crossroads today, as it requires a policy that meets the needs of the 21st century and which will contribute to the growth of jobs in the EU. It must avoid constraining mobility, while at the same time responding to a range of social and economic problems that arise.
Aim and tasks. The purpose of the article is to develop theoretical, methodological and practical applications, which should justify the optimization of transport services and changes in the design of vehicles and infrastructure of the European Union. In addition, various factors of historical and geographical nature often affect the political merits of States parties. After decades of EU activity, there is currently not a sufficiently compatible and resource saving network of interconnected, trans border transport infrastructure.
Reasearch results. The essence of the formation of a united European transport network is the implementation of direct links between the main nodes and the infrastructure that forms the mobility of passengers. Airports, ports, railways, undergrounds and bus stations must increasingly be transformed into multimodal communication platforms for passengers and cargo. Online information, electronic booking and payment systems that combine all vehicles will contribute to multimodal travel. But today legal, administrative and technical barriers multiply and slow down the process of forming a single European transport space. Despite the intensification of rail freight and international passenger transport, access to the transport services market continues to be a serious problem. This is largely due to lack of independence and lack of financial transparency between infrastructure managers and service providers, which can lead to discrimination and distortion of the market.
Conclusion. The transport policy of the European Union provides a powerful lever for economic recovery. A new issue for European transport systems is their intermodality, that is, the opportunity for logistic chains to use different consecutive modes of transport according to their specific needs for optimizing costs and environmental impact. This means the implementation of regular, clear efforts at European level country by country, industry by industry, according to different geographical, economic and historical features. An investment strategy in transport infrastructure will make sense only if it is shared by actors in the world market. By means of joint financing of individual objects by business and states, the possibility of creating a single European transport network will be real.
Impact of early palliative care on survival in advanced-stage cancer patients: An institution-based retrospective cross-sectional study
Authors: THAKUR NIKETA , Ghoshal Sushmita
Published: September 2019

Background: While treating patients with the advanced disease it becomes very challenging for the clinicians to decide as to when the active treatment is justified and when should palliative care be introduced in patient's treatment. American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) suggested that patients with advanced cancer, regardless of patient or outpatient, should receive dedicated palliative care services, early in the disease course, simultaneous with active treatment. Similar recommendations have been proposed by the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO). Keeping in view this background, we aimed to do this study. Aim: To study the impact of the introduction of early palliative care into routine oncological management on patient's survival.Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study is based on hospital data for patients who died in the hospice between the year 2017 and 2018. The complete information including age, gender, date of death, diagnosis, procedures, and medical interventions, as well as the date of documentation, was obtained of each patient.Results: A total of 27 patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age at presentation was 50.3 years. 11 (40.7%) patients received oncological treatment integrated with palliative care in the last month of life. The median duration of survival from diagnosis till death was 7 months in the patients who received only palliative care and 10 months in patients who received integrated onco-palliative care in the last month of life (P=0.452). 14 (51.8%) patients received early palliative care. The median survival of the patients who received early palliative care and of those who were offered palliative care towards the end of life was 8.5 months and 7 months respectively (P=0.040).Conclusion: Based on our results, we strongly believe that early palliative care when integrated into standard oncological treatment in advance stage cancer patients can prolong patient's survival.
Present-Day Epidemiological-Epizootological Peculiarities of Natural Tularemia Foci in Altai
Authors: Kulikalova E. S. , Mazepa A. V. , Syngeeva A. K. , Polkovnikov E. S. , Shestakov V. A. , Shefer V. V. , Fomina L. A. , Mishenko A I. , Balakhonov S V.
Published: September 2019

RelevanceNatural tularemia foci are widespread in Altai Krai and Republic Altai and characterized by high functional stability.Aim.To study modern epidemiological and epizootological features of natural foci of tularemia in the Altai region Russia.Materials and MethodsThe current state of small mammal number in the region is examined. Results of complex studying of 14 Francisella tularensis strains isolated in Republic Altai from 1950 to 2015 (from the collection of Museum of live cultures in Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute of Rospotrebnadzor) and 21 strains isolated in 2016–2018 in the Altai region are presented. For the first time the tularemia causative agent was isolated at this territory in 1940s. Water vole (Arvicola amphibius) is the most epidemiologically significant as the infection source in these foci. Ixodes ticks: Dermacentor silvarum, D. reticulatus, D. marginatus, Haemaphysalis concinna, Ixodes persulcatus are the main vectors. Now Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica circulates at Altai territory, and since 2011 additionally F. tularensis mediasiatica.ConclusionsThe functioning of the natural center of tularemia in the territory of the Altai region in the modern period is characterized by coupled circulation of the causative agent of tularemia of two subspecies, sporadic cases of tularemia diseases and infection by the causative agent of environmental objects (bloodsucking arthropods, open water, small mammals). All this indicates a high activity of natural foci with respect to this especially dangerous natural focal infection.
Metabiotic Medicine of Symbiotic Corynebacteria: Prevention, Treatment and Immunological Safety
Authors: Shmeleva E. A. , Vershinin A. E. , Andina S. S.
Published: September 2019

Relevance.Acute respiratory diseases (ARD) occupy a leading position in infectious pathology. Patients who often suffer from the acute respiratory diseases, in most cases have an ENT pathology against the background of immunodeficiency state. Large groups of people are often affected by such diseases. As a rule, the causative agents of such diseases are pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microorganisms. To solve this problem, therapeutic immunomodulatory vaccines have been proposed. The goal of such drugs is to enhance specific resistance to a large number of conditionally pathogenic microorganisms.Aims.The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the prophylactic, therapeutic efficacy and immunomodulating safety of a metabiotic preparation produced from symbiotic corynebacteria.Materials and methods.A medicine Kodivak, a structural component of the cell wall of the symbiotic corynebacterium (Corynebacterium diphtheriae (tox +) was used in the work. The study on long term Cd tox + bacteria carriers examined the therapeutic efficacy as well as immunomodulating safety of Kodivak compared with some vaccines.Results and discussion.All carriers who have undergone the treatment with Kodivak stopped the release of Cd tox +, which was confirmed by a bacteriological analysis, and the condition of the oropharynx corresponded to the physiological norm. The quantitative indicators of the content of lymphocytes in the blood of the long-term carriers of C. diphtheriae tox + were determined before and after the course of treatment with Kodivak. Selective immunocorrecting effect of Kodivak on the human immune system is shown. A comparative analysis of post-vaccination changes in the number of immunocompetent cells of patients immunized with different vaccines showed that medicines containing antigens that are responsible for pathogenicity stimulate the state of immunodeficiency at a certain stage. While Kodivak does not cause significant deviations in the composition of the subpopulation of lymphocytes from the physiological norm.Conclusions.The findings confirm the possibility and necessity of using Kodivak not only for the rehabilitation of long-term carriers, but also both for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes in the risk groups of ARD morbidity of microbial and viral etiology as well as a nonspecific immunomodulating agent for the restoration of microsymbiogenesis in the upper respiratory tract biotopes.
New technology of protecting apple fruits from bitter pit and other physiological diseases during storage
Authors: Gudkovsky V. A. , Kozhina L. V. , Balakirev A. E. , Nazarov Yu. B.
Published: September 2019

The work was performed in the I. V. Michurin Federal Scientifi c Center (Tambov region, Russia) in 2015-2018. The fruits of Sinap Orlovsky variety with high susceptibility to bitter pit, medium – to superfi cial scald and CO2 -skin injuries were used. The main post-harvest strategy of protecting fruits from bitter pit (BP) is storage in a controlled atmosphere (CA), short-term low oxygen storage (10 days, O2<1 %) reduces losses from scald and BP, but does not provide protection from diseases of varieties with high susceptibility; post-harvest treatment with ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor (1-MCP) provides protection from scald, but has an ambiguous effect on the development of BP, and may increase the degree of disease appearance. The purpose of the research is the development of innovative technology of managing of bitter pit and other post-harvest pathological diseases. In the experiment, the control and 1-MCP-treated fruits were stored at 0 + 1 °C under regular (RA) and controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions: CA-1 (CO2 – 1.2-1.5 %, O2 – 1.2-1.5 %), CA-2 (СО2<0.1 %, О2 – 1.2-1.5 %), under conditions of short (10 days) post-harvest impact of controlled factors: temperature 18-20 °С, О2 – 1.2-1.5 %, CO2<0.1 % and further storage in regular atmosphere (LO2 ). Ethylene, α-farnesen and its oxidation products (CТ281), phenolic compounds were determined in fruits, losses from bitter pit, scald, CO2 -skin injuries, quality (fi rmness) were estimated. 1-MCP-treatment ensured a low level of ethylene and CT281 accumulation in fruits, protection from scald, preservation of fi rmness in all variants of fruit storage, with maximum effi ciency of variants CA-2, CA-1 and LO2 . Fruit protection from bitter pit was provided by CA-2 technology, a signifi cant reduction of losses – LO2 . When using the technology of CA-2, losses from CO2 -skin injuries, noted in the conditions of CA-1, were excluded. The maximum efficiency of protection of fruits from BP, scald, CO2 -injuries is provided by the developed technology CA-2 (CO2<0.1 %, O2 — 1.2-1.5 %).
Efficiency of glyphosate and ammonium glufosinate against common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) in vineyards
Authors: Golubev A. S. , Borushko I. P. , Dolzhenko V. I.
Published: September 2019

The use of glyphosate (720-2880 g/h a.i.) and ammonium glufosinate herbicides (375-1500 g/h a.i.) to control of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) has been studied in trials (2013-2018) in the vineyards of Rkatsiteli, Liang and Cabernet Sauvignon in Abinsk district of Krasnodar region. Accounting of weeds was done by a quantitative method with counting the number of each weed species in each plot. Counts were performed before the treatment and in 15, 30 and 45 days after spraying. The effi cacy of herbicide was determined in relation to the untreated control and expressed as a percentage. The main evaluation criterion was the eff ectiveness of 100 % in one of the accounts or the average (for all counts) effi ciency of more than 90 %. The results showed that in 95 % of trials spraying of 1440 g/h of glyphosate 1440 g/h of glyphosate (a.i.) and higher ensured processing effi ciency exceeding 90 %. Herbicides such as Roundup, containing 360 g/l of isopropylamine salt, can be recommended for use to control of common ragweed in the application rate 4.0 l/ha. Destruction of all common ragweed observed when using not less than 600 g/h glufosinate ammonium. Thus, Herbicides such as Basta, containing 150 g/l of ammonium glufosinate, to control of common ragweed should be applied by fractional application vegetative weeds (2.5 l/h + 1.5 l/h).
Apple breeding process duration and ways of its reduction
Authors: Sedov E. N. , Korneyeva S. A. , Yanchuk T. V. , Serova Z. M.
Published: September 2019

A careful 63-year-old work on apple breeding, resulting in the creation of 54 its varieties, included in the State Register of breeding achievements admitted for use, makes it possible to speak about the ways of reduction in the time of the actual breeding process and the subsequent stages of accelerating the introduction of new varieties into production. According to the experience of the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding, an average of 19 years is spent from hybridization to the adoption of a variety for State trials, and from hybridization to inclusion in the State Register it is spent 27 years. The requirements for new apple varieties are changing and becoming tougher to a large extent during this period. We off er the possibility of reducing the time to create a new variety by combining in time the actual breeding process and the primary variety study. For this purpose already during the selection and transfer of biannual seedlings to the breeding orchard it is necessary to multiply and include the best seedlings on morphological features with a culture of 5 points (no more than 1 seedling per thousand selected ones) in the primary study. In this case the actual breeding process is combined with the primary study. When transferring the variety to the state trial, it is necessary to lay orchards of a small production testing of 20-40 trees of a new variety in each of the three replications. The time of single breeders is a thing of the past. To create varieties that meet high requirements of production (convenient for cultivation, highly adapted to local conditions, with a certain shape of tree crowns, with the fruits of high commodity and consumer qualities), interdisciplinary teams are needed, which include not only breeders, but also pomologists, geneticists, cytoembryologists, biochemists, physiologists, phytopathologists, and agricultural technicians. Usually years, and sometimes decades are spent on the creation of well-coordinated teams of professionals of diff erent specialties, but only such teams are able to create varieties that meet all main requirements. At Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding such a team consists of 22 people.
Reliability of the 6-minute walking test smartphone application
Authors: Stienen Martin N. , Gautschi Oliver P. , Staartjes Victor E. , Maldaner Nicolai , Sosnova Marketa , Ho Allen L. , Veeravagu Anand , Desai Atman , Zygourakis Corinna C. , Park Jon , Regli Luca , Ratliff John K.
Published: September 2019

OBJECTIVE

Objective functional measures such as the 6-minute walking test (6WT) are increasingly applied to evaluate patients with degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine before and after (surgical) treatment. However, the traditional 6WT is cumbersome to apply, as it requires specialized in-hospital infrastructure and personnel. The authors set out to compare 6-minute walking distance (6WD) measurements obtained with a newly developed smartphone application (app) and those obtained with the gold-standard distance wheel (DW).

METHODS

The authors developed a free iOS- and Android-based smartphone app that allows patients to measure the 6WD in their home environment using global positioning system (GPS) coordinates. In a laboratory setting, the authors obtained 6WD measurements over a range of smartphone models, testing environments, and walking patterns and speeds. The main outcome was the relative measurement error (rME; in percent of 6WD), with |rME| < 7.5% defined as reliable. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for agreement between app- and DW-based 6WD was calculated.

RESULTS

Measurements (n = 406) were reliable with all smartphone types in neighborhood, nature, and city environments (without high buildings), as well as with unspecified, straight, continuous, and stop-and-go walking patterns (ICC = 0.97, 95% CI 0.97–0.98, p < 0.001). Measurements were unreliable indoors, in city areas with high buildings, and for predominantly rectangular walking courses. Walking speed had an influence on the ME, with worse accuracy (2% higher rME) for every kilometer per hour slower walking pace (95% CI 1.4%–2.5%, p < 0.001). Mathematical adjustment of the app-based 6WD for velocity-dependent error mitigated the rME (p < 0.011), attenuated velocity dependence (p = 0.362), and had a positive effect on accuracy (ICC = 0.98, 95% CI 0.98–0.99, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The new, free, spine-specific 6WT smartphone app measures the 6WD conveniently by using GPS coordinates, empowering patients to independently determine their functional status before and after (surgical) treatment. Measurements of 6WD obtained for the target population under the recommended circumstances are highly reliable.
Cost-effectiveness of minimally invasive midline lumbar interbody fusion versus traditional open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion
Authors: Djurasovic Mladen , Gum Jeffrey L. , Crawford Charles H. , Owens Kirk , Brown Morgan , Steele Portia , Glassman Steven D. , Carreon Leah Y.
Published: September 2019

OBJECTIVE

The midline transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIDLIF) using cortical screw fixation is a novel, minimally invasive procedure that may offer enhanced recovery over traditional open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). Little information is available regarding the comparative cost-effectiveness of the MIDLIF over conventional TLIF. The purpose of this study was to compare cost-effectiveness of minimally invasive MIDLIF with open TLIF.

METHODS

From a prospective, multisurgeon, surgical database, a consecutive series of patients undergoing 1- or 2-level MIDLIF for degenerative lumbar conditions was identified and propensity matched to patients undergoing TLIF based on age, sex, smoking status, BMI, diagnosis, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification System (ASA) class, and levels fused. Direct costs at 1 year were collected, including costs associated with the index surgical visit as well as costs associated with readmission. Improvement in health-related quality of life was measured using EQ-5D and SF-6D.

RESULTS

Of 214 and 181 patients undergoing MIDLIF and TLIF, respectively, 33 cases in each cohort were successfully propensity matched. Consistent with propensity matching, there was no difference in age, sex, BMI, diagnosis, ASA class, smoking status, or levels fused. Spondylolisthesis was the most common indication for surgery in both cohorts. Variable direct costs at 1 year were $2493 lower in the MIDLIF group than in the open TLIF group (mean $15,867 vs $17,612, p = 0.073). There was no difference in implant (p = 0.193) or biologics (p = 0.145) cost, but blood utilization (p = 0.015), operating room supplies (p < 0.001), hospital room and board (p < 0.001), pharmacy (p = 0.010), laboratory (p = 0.004), and physical therapy (p = 0.009) costs were all significantly lower in the MIDLIF group. Additionally, the mean length of stay was decreased for MIDLIF as well (3.21 vs 4.02 days, p = 0.05). The EQ-5D gain at 1 year was 0.156 for MIDLIF and 0.141 for open TLIF (p = 0.821). The SF-6D gain at 1 year was 0.071 for MIDLIF and 0.057 for open TLIF (p = 0.551).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with patients undergoing traditional open TLIF, those undergoing MIDLIF have similar 1-year gains in health-related quality of life, with total direct costs that are $2493 lower. Although the findings were not statistically significant, minimally invasive MIDLIF showed improved cost-effectiveness at 1 year compared with open TLIF.
Prediction of bridge deck condition rating based on artificial neural networks
Authors: Nguyen Tu Trung , Dinh Kien
Published: September 2019

An accurate prediction of the future condition of structural components is essential for planning the maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation of bridges. As such, this paper presents an application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to predict future deck condition for highway bridges in the State of Alabama, the United States.  A library of 2572 bridges was extracted from the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) database and used for training, validation, and testing the ANN model, which had eight input parameters and one output being the deck rating. Specifically, the eight input parameters are Current Bridge Age, Average Daily Traffic, Design Load, Main Structure Design, Approach Span Design, Number of main Span, Percent of Daily Truck Traffic, and Average Daily Traffic Growth Rate. The results indicated the obtained ANN model can predict the condition rating of the bridge deck with an accuracy of 73.6%. If a margin error of ±1 was used, the accuracy of the proposed model reached a much higher value of 98.5%. Besides, a sensitivity analysis was conducted for individual input parameters revealed that Current Bridge Age was the most important predicting parameter of bridge deck rating. It was followed by the Design Load and Main Structure Design. The other input parameters were found to have neglectable effects on the ANN’s performance. Finally, it was shown that the obtained ANN can be used to develop the deterioration curve of the bridge deck, which helps visualize the condition rating of a deck, and accordingly the maintenance need, during its remaining service life.

Keywords:

condition rating; bridge deck; deterioration curve; artificial neural networks; sensitivity analysis.
Effects of vertical seismic actions on the responses of single-storey industrial steel building frames
Authors: Thuat Dinh Van , Hoa Nguyen Dinh , Chuong Ho Viet , Hung Truong Viet
Published: September 2019

Single-storey industrial steel frames with crances are considered as being vertically irregular in structural configuration and load distribution under strong earthquake excitations. In this paper, various analytical frames with their spans of 20, 26, 32 and 38 m and locations built in Ha Noi and Son La regions were designed to resist dead, roof live, crane and wind loads. The equivalent horizontal and vertical static earthquake loads applied on the frames were determined. Next, by using linear elastic analyses of structures, the effects of vertical seismic actions on the responses of the frames were evaluated in terms of the ratios K1 and K2 at the bottom and top of the columns corresponding to different combinations of dead loads and static earthquake loads, as denoted by CE1, CE2 and CE3. The effects of seismic actions compared with those of wind actions were also evaluated in terms of the ratios K3 and K4. As a result, the effects of vertical seismic actions were significant and increased with the span lengths of the frames. In addition, by using nonlinear inelastic analyses of structures, the levels of the static earthquake loads were determined corresponding to the first yielding and maximum resistances of the frames.

Keywords:

single-storey industrial buildings; steel frames; span lengths; irregularity; vertical seismic actions; earthquake levels; wind loads
INFLUENCE OF MICRO-ENVIRONMENT ON YEAST POPULATION DYNAMICS
Authors: Trosset Jean-Yves , Tliba Sami , El Ati Ali , Friha Hela , Mogensen Estelle , Kahouli Jawher , Lacombe Robin , Arkoun Ouerdia , Diop Sette , Ledesma-Amaro Rodrigo , Boussaada Islam
Published: September 2019

Abundance or scarcity of external nutrients is a metabolic trigger, especially for highly proliferative cells such as bacteria, yeasts, parasites or tumors. In presence of oxygen cells usually adopt efficient metabolism in order to maximize energy production yield in poor diet. If nutrient resource increases, a metabolic shift from efficient metabolism (respiration) to inefficient metabolism (fermentation) is reflecting a minimal cost principle of living systems to optimize fitness. This is known as the Crabtree/Warburg effect. Identifying a model that describes the population dynamics of cells and the input growth condition are the goals of this study. Proof of principle has been constructed using a battery of growth experiments on Crabtree-positive yeasts–Saccharomyces under various conditions of glucose in aerobic and micro-aerobic conditions. General cell growth model estimating metabolic shift has been constructed based on an Auto Regressive approach.

Keywords: Yeast, Population dynamics, Modeling, Identification
GERMINATION OF TANACETUM CINERARIIFOLIUM SEEDS ON DIFFERENT SOIL TYPES
Authors: Ilinkin Vladimir
Published: September 2019

Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Trevir.) Sch. Bip. is a species of great economic importance because it contains Pyrethrins – natural insecticides with the potential to be the ideal means for pest control. Soil samples from different soil types (Skeletic Fluvisols, Rendzic Leptosol, Luvic Chernozem, Chromic Luvisols, Dystric-Eutric Cambisol, Pellic Vertisols) have been studied in order to determine the physicochemical soil indicators and the regressions between the soil characteristics and seed germination. Four hundred seeds (4х100) were planted in each soil type (in pots) under controlled conditions. Reliable statistically significant regressions, both negative (bulk density, sand fraction, available phosphorus) and positive (total porosity, silt and clay fractions, pH(H2O), CaCO3, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, Soil Organic Mater) with regard to seed germination have been established. The seeds planted in Rendzic Leptosol have shown the highest germination percentage, and the ones planted in Skeletic Fluvisols have shown the lowest germination percentage.
Key words: Pyrethrum cinerariifolium Trev., Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium Bocc, seed germination, soil.
Virtual reality to improve motor function after stroke: Past, present, and future
Authors: O’Brien John , Roberts David , Monaghan Kenneth
Published: September 2019

In Ireland, stroke is the leading cause of disability with 5000–6000 new stroke survivors each year requiring rehabilitation. While clinical rehabilitation programmes have been proven effective in motor re-learning, barriers exist in the sustainability of regular and repetitive behavioural activities. A common barrier to effective rehabilitation is patient motivation with repetitive training in itself often described by patients as boring and time consuming. Virtual reality is the use of “interactive simulations created with computer hardware and software to present users with opportunities to engage in environments that appear and feel similar to real world objects and events”. With recent advancements in digital technology; gaming and virtual reality are attracting much attention as innovative solutions to the resourcing and motivational challenges facing conventional clinical stroke therapy. In this commentary, we highlight the potential of immersive and non-immersive virtual reality in the rehabilitation after stroke. The value of virtual reality may not lie in replacing conventional therapy but in providing an alternative method of therapy that increases rehabilitation activity time and motivates users into repetitive practice. Such a therapy would be even more advantageous in the sub-acute and chronic phases of recovery when patients have limited access to further rehabilitation.
An advanced practice physiotherapy clinic in paediatric orthopaedics: A cost minimisation analysis
Authors: Ó Mír Marie , Rokicki Slawa , Lennon Olive , O’ Toole Patrick O. , Desmeules François , O’Sullivan Cliona
Published: September 2019

PURPOSE:

Advanced Practice Physiotherapy (APP) in paediatric orthopaedics is an effective adjunct to traditional consultant-led clinics, improving patient access to outpatient services, and reducing both waiting lists and times. However there has been no published economic evaluation of a paediatric orthopaedic APP service. This study performs a cost analysis, utilising a cost minimisation approach, comparing an APP Clinic in Paediatric Orthopaedics with usual care, from a health care perspective.

METHODS:

Data on all patients managed by the APP clinic for one calendar year were collected and outcomes and associated costs were calculated, including follow-up care. These costs were compared to the estimated costs of the usual care pathway, an Orthopaedic Consultant Elective Clinic (OCEC) and incremental savings per patient was calculated.

RESULTS:

A total of 534 patients attended the APP clinic for initial assessment during the calendar year 2017. The unit cost of a new appintment with the APP clinic is € 32.46 in comparison with € 56.98 for a new appointment in the OCEC. Our results demonstrate an incremental per patient saving of € 24.51 in favour of the APP clinic. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the cost savings obtained hold consistent in all cases, varying from € 23.13 to € 29.67 per patient in favour of the APP clinic pathway. This represents a cost saving of 43% for the APP Pathway over that of usual care.

CONCLUSION(S):

This is the first study to perform an economic analysis of the APP role in paediatric orthopaedics and demonstrates that an APP clinic for non-complex paediatric orthopaedic patients is substantially less costly than usual care.