bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
O Problema do Jogo do Balanceamento de Carga
Authors: da Silva Eric Batista , Cordeiro Daniel
Published: August 2021

Neste trabalho de Iniciação Científica estudamos o Jogo de Balanceamento de Carga, um jogo modelado com Teoria Algorítmica dos Jogos que possui aplicações práticas em Computação de Alto Desempenho. Este texto apresenta sua modelagem teórica, bem como a avaliação experimental preliminar de seu uso na prática.
Métricas de redes complexas para caracterizar a escalabilidade de programas paralelos
Authors: Magueta Marcos Paulo Bispo , Stringhini Denise
Published: August 2021

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre potenciais indicadores de escalabilidade de programas paralelos a serem definidos por análise metodológica, baseando-se em métricas de redes complexas dinâmicas e séries temporais. Os eventos de comunicação são extraídos de um traço de execução e um grafo de comunicação é gerado de forma que se possa extrair métricas de redes complexas. As métricas são então apresentadas em um gráfico ao longo de um período de tempo, resultando em uma série temporal, onde medidas estatísticas podem ser aplicadas. O objetivo é caracterizar os programas paralelos a partir destas séries temporais tal que se possa obter indicadores de escalabilidade relacionados ao padrão de comunicação.
A review on Approximate Computing applied to meteorological forecast models using software-based techniques
Authors: Sudo Marcelo Augusto , Fazenda Álvaro Luiz
Published: August 2021

This study is part of research on Approximate Computing software-based techniques applied to meteorological forecast numerical models. Currently, a Systematic Review is ongoing, and it will serve as a reference to verify which algorithms have already been ported and which techniques are being used. This document focuses only on some approximated computing techniques, especially on mixed or reduced precision. Conclusions up to now show just a few research articles regarding the subject, so there are still many aspects to unveil.
Sensibilidade a erros em aplicações na arquitetura RISC-V
Authors: Fabrício Filho João , Felzmann Isaias B. , Wanner Lucas F.
Published: August 2021

Arquiteturas que implementam o conjunto de instruções RISC-V são adequadas para o contexto de sistemas embarcados. A demanda por menor consumo energético e maior desempenho nesse contexto é crescente, e a aproximação de elementos de memória tem potencial para alcançar ambos os benefícios. Contudo, a sensibilidade a erros de cada aplicação pode impedir a obtenção de maiores benefícios, por meio de quebras de execução ou menor qualidade dos resultados. Neste trabalho, propomos a avaliação da sensibilidade de aplicações a falhas em dados armazenados em memória na arquitetura RISC-V. Expondo toda a memória de dados a um modelo de erro em um simulador, é possível verificar a correlação entre o aumento das quebras de execução e a diminuição da qualidade dos resultados. Para um requisito de qualidade de 90%, as 3 aplicações avaliadas toleraram diferentes níveis de aproximação em escala logarítmica, chegando na ordem da taxa de erro de 10^-7.
Byron, an Event-Driven Microservices Framework
Authors: Daniel João F. L. , Oliveira Leonardo L. V. , Ferreira Renato C. , Guerra Eduardo M. , Rosa Thatiane O. , vel Lejbman Alfredo G.
Published: August 2021

The rise of technological dependency made some requirements crucial to online systems, such as availability, and scalability. The microservices architectural style provides improvements to scalability and software maintainability and has been broadly adopted. Although, microservices highlight trade-offs between consistency and coupling level. This work presents Byron, an event-driven microservices framework as a solution to mitigate these problems. It implements a reactive architecture in an Event-Sourcing environment.
Processamento Distribuído de Eventos Complexos Aplicado à Detecção de Eventos no Trânsito em Tempo Real
Authors: Scattone Fernando Freire , Braghetto Kelly Rosa
Published: August 2021

Uma técnica comumente usada para processar dados em tempo real é o Processamento de Eventos Complexos (CEP - Complex Event Processing). CEP permite a detecção de eventos de interesse a partir da identificação de padrões nos dados processados. Este trabalho apresenta uma implementação de arquitetura de microsserviços auto-escalável para CEP, apropriada para lidar com grandes fluxos de dados, como os gerados por sensores em cidades inteligentes. Um sistema que detecta problemas no tráfego das linhas de transporte público de ônibus de São Paulo foi projetado para testar a arquitetura.
Análise de desempenho dos serviços de armazenamento da Nuvem Computacional para execução de checkpoint
Authors: Rodamilans Charles B. , Borin Edson
Published: August 2021

A Nuvem Computacional tem sido utilizada para executar as aplicações de computação de alto desempenho devido ao seu potencial para reduzir custos. A instabilidade das instâncias com custo reduzido - Spots - podem ser contornadas com mecanismos de checkpointing e o desempenho do serviço armazenamento se torna crucial para evitar o aumento demasiado no tempo total da execução. Foi comparado o desempenho de quatro serviços de armazenamento da Nuvem Computacional da AWS (EBS, EFS, FSx for Lustre e S3) para a persistência de checkpoints e observou-se que: (1) dois dos quatro serviços de armazenamento apresentaram escalabilidade; (2) o serviço de armazenamento pode aumentar o desempenho de escrita em até 727%.
Levantamento sobre Técnicas de Escalonamento para Computação Verde em Nuvem
Authors: Vasconcelos Miguel F. S. , Cordeiro Daniel
Published: August 2021

A popularização do uso de plataformas de Computação em Nuvem resultou em um aumento significativo do uso de energia elétrica para a operação de tais plataformas: cerca de 1% da energia produzida no mundo é utilizada em data centers. Este trabalho apresenta uma revisão exploratória sobre as técnicas de gerenciamento de recursos computacionais e de escalonamento para plataformas de Computação em Nuvem que tem como objetivo maximizar o uso de energias renováveis.
« L’Étoile de Giadinh: » Le football à Saigon dans les années 1920, entre loisir des élites et instrument d’émancipation nationale
Authors: Fossard Brice
Published: August 2021

Early in the twentieth century, keen modernist Vietnamese elites copied the western model to reposition their country among the dominant nations. Some discovered football and used it to shape a new generation of patriots. The Étoile de Giadinh played a crucial role in this transformational process among the Vietnamese, both intellectually and physically; the political engagement shown by its guiding personalities, its innovative training methods, an array of sporting triumphs and the management of promotional tours throughout Indochina turned the club into a vector of sporting acculturation. In a much greater advance, in the 1920s this Saigon football club became a fully Indochinese model for compatriots seeking to break away from colonial tutelage. This article analyses the founders’ strategies for the football association to initiate the reversal of colonial hierarchy. A combination of activists and promoters of combined physical and intellectual emancipation, they incarnated the third phase of acculturation which we know as dominant otherness: the colonial hierarchy was overturned in favour of new Vietnamese elites in the footballing world. Through their victories the team members of L’Etoile de Giadinh showed that innate Vietnamese assets could help the nation to regain its independence. This football club thus became the matrix of a veritable cultural revolution, a universal and timely blend of well-being, sport and nationalism.
Unraveling Primary Membranous Nephropathy Using Proteogenomic Studies
Authors: Ragy Omar , Hamilton Patrick , Kanigicherla Durga
Published: August 2021

Membranous nephropathy is one of the leading causes of nephrotic syndrome in adults. The disease manifests in different forms with varying severity and outcomes range from spontaneous remission to rapid disease progression. The effects of the disease are so far best understood using conventional histopathological morphology and clinical phenotype. Being an autoimmune condition subject to a multi-hit hypothesis, the notion of underlying genetic risks is being examined in recent times. Current evidence points to significant heterogeneity in the gene expression profiles in both the immune system and at the glomerular level, with potential implications for disease management. Further proteomic and transcriptomic analysis can instruct classification, prognostication, and treatment pathways. This chapter focuses on the links identified between primary membranous nephropathy and underlying gene polymorphism, and pathways using both proteomics and transcriptomic analysis. We discuss the potential impact this could have on future management to try to minimize the patient’s immunosuppression exposure and find the most effective targeted immunosuppressive therapy.
A Review on the Ethnobotanical Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Effect of Luffa cylindrinca
Authors: Akinyinka Akinwumi Kazeeem , Olusoji Eleyowo Oluwole , Omowunmi Oladipo Omolara
Published: August 2021

Luffa cylindrica, popularly known as sponge gourd is a tropic and sub-tropical fibrous plant with fruits containing black seeds. The fruit is consumed by humans as a vegetable in many parts of Asia, while different parts of the plant are used for cosmetics and as medicine in many parts of the globe. The plant has been used in the treatment of many ailments including nose cancer, snake venom, wound healing, edema, enterobiasis, filaria, whooping cough, stomach upset, stomach pain and malaria. Many health-promoting compounds such as flavonoids (apigenin-7- glucuronide luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide methyl ester, -O-feruloyl-β-D-glucose, luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide methyl ester), phenolics acids (p-Coumaric, gallic, caffeic, chlorogenic), triterpenoids (oleanolic acid and echinocystic acid), saponins (Lucyoside A-M), tannins (catechin), ribosome-inactivating proteins (α- luffin), carotenoids (9 -cis neoxanthin, all-trans-lutein, all-trans-β-carotene), chlorophylls (chlorophyll a and b, pheophytin), cucurbitacin B and gypsogenin have been detected or isolated from different parts of the plants. Extracts of the plant and isolated compounds have wide spectrum pharmacological activities and have been shown to possess antiemetic, antidiabetic, antiviral, wound healing, anticancer, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, anti-bacteria, anthelmintic, hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activity, and hepato-protective effects in animal models. However, further information is needed on its safety and mechanisms of action. The present article is an updated review of the ethnobotanical uses, pharmacological actions, phytochemistry, safety, and future application of Luffa cylindrica in translational medicine.
Image Enhancement Methods for Remote Sensing: A Survey
Authors: Huseyin Kaplan Nur , Erer Isin , Kumlu Deniz
Published: August 2021

The quality of the images obtained from remote sensing devices is very important for many image processing applications. Most of the enhancement methods are based on histogram modification and transform based methods. Histogram modification based methods aim to modify the histogram of the input image to obtain a more uniform distribution. Transform based methods apply a certain transform to the input image and enhance the image in transform domain followed by the inverse transform. In this work, both histogram modification and transform domain methods have been considered, as well as hybrid methods. Moreover, a new hybrid algorithm is proposed for remote sensing image enhancement. Visual comparisons as well as quantitative comparisons have been carried out for different enhancement methods. For objective comparison quality metrics, namely Contrast Gain, Enhancement Measurement, Discrete Entropy and Average Mean Brightness Error have been used. The comparisons show that, the histogram modification methods have a better contrast improvement, while transform domain methods have a better performance in edge enhancement and color preservation. Moreover, hybrid methods which combine the two former approaches have higher potential.
Desertification in Agricultural Lands: Approaches to Mitigation
Authors: Rastgoo Mehdi , Hasanfard Alireza
Published: August 2021

Urban expansion and industrial development destroy agricultural lands, pastures, and forests, and reduce the ecological and biological potential of lands, known as desertification. Diminished land potential due to one or a combination of processes such as erosion, destruction of water resources, destruction of vegetation, and swamping, by climate and human factors, is called desertification. Among these, human factors have a vital role in the emergence of this phenomenon. Excessive human economic activity upsets the ecological balance of arid and semi-arid regions, leading to adverse environmental changes. With the expansion of deserts in some parts of the world, food production and water resources are declining, resulting in environmental migration. Due to the limited capacity of urban areas to provide facilities and services, these migrations will cause severe socio-economic problems. In general, climatic and human factors are among the fundamental causes of desertification in the world. Preventing improper agricultural practices that lead to salinity and widespread soil degradation requires well-planned and strengthened awareness programs and development of information and care systems for areas exposed to desertification and drought, while also addressing the economic and social dimensions in these ecosystems.
The Implementation of Sustainable Development and Protection of Cultural Heritage at Different Levels of Spatial and Urban Planning: A Case Study of the Republic of Serbia
Authors: Stefanović Nebojša , Danilović Hristić Nataša
Published: August 2021

The starting point in this paper is the position that spatial and urban planning has a key role in sustainable development and the protection of cultural heritage. The planning method used in areas of cultural heritage differs depending on the type and level of the spatial plan. It is possible to identify aspects of protection and sustainable development in plans, with the protection of cultural heritage dominating in practice. Research was carried out on a case study of three spatial plans at different levels, which both in terms of their methodology and content make up the planning system for the protection and sustainable development of cultural heritage in Serbia. The comparative analysis of the plans includes three aspects: protection, the sustainable development of cultural heritage, and the integration of cultural heritage into the planning and protection of landscapes. The implementation models of the spatial plans were considered. The main conclusion of the paper is that the concept of protecting cultural heritage has not evolved into a system of comprehensive and adequate planning for its sustainable development, nor is it sufficiently integrated with the planning and protection of landscapes. The paper provides guidelines for improving both the methodology of spatial planning and the concept of the sustainable development and protection of cultural heritage in spatial plans.
Identification of Cassava Varieties in Ex-Situ Collections and Global Farmer’s Fields: An Update from 1990 to 2020
Authors: Augusto Becerra Lopez-Lavalle Luis , Bohorquez-Chaux Adriana , Zhang Xiaofei
Published: August 2021

The identification of cassava cultivars is important for understanding the crop’s production system, enabling crop improvement practitioners to design and deliver tailored solutions with which farmers can secure high yields and sustainable production. Across the lowland tropics today, a large number improved varieties and landraces of cassava are under cultivation, making it inefficient for breeders and geneticists to set improvement goals for the crop. The identification and characterization of cassava genotypes is currently based on either morphological characters or molecular features. The major aim of cultivar identification is to catalog the crop’s genetic diversity, but a consensus approach has still not been established. Of the two approaches to the identification of variety, morphological characters seem to account for most of the genetic variability reported in cassava. However, these characters must be treated with caution, as phenotypic changes can be due to environmental and climatic conditions as well as to the segregation of new highly heterozygous populations, thus, making the accurate identification of varieties difficult. The use of molecular markers has allowed researchers to establish accurate relationships between genotypes, and to measure and track their heterozygous status. Since the early 1990’s, molecular geneticists working with cassava have been developing and deploying DNA-based tools for the identification and characterization of landraces or improved varieties. Hence, in the last five years, economists and social scientists have adopted DNA-based variety identification to measure the adoption rates of varieties, and to support the legal protection of breeder’s rights. Despite the advances made in the deployment of molecular markers for cassava, multiple platform adoption, as well as their costs and variable throughput, has limited their use by practitioners of crop improvement of cassava. The post-genomic era has produced a large number of genome and transcriptome sequencing tools, and has increased our capacity to develop and deploy genome-based tools to account for the crop’s genetic variability by accurately measuring and tracking allele diversity. These technologies allow the creation of haplotype catalogs that can be widely shared across the cassava crop improvement community. Low-density genome-wide SNP markers might be the solution for the wide adoption of molecular tools for the identification of cultivars or varieties of cassava. In this review we survey the efforts made in the past 30 years to establish the tools for cultivar identification of cassava in farmer’s fields and gene banks. We also emphasize the need for a global picture of the genetic diversity of this crop, at its center of origin in South America.
Recent Advances in Biodistribution, Preclinical and Clinical Applications of Radiolabelled Iodine
Authors: Soliman Khaled , Alenezi Ahmed , Alrushoud Abdullah , Altimyat Salman , Bakkari Mousa , Alshikh Hanaa , Alruwaili Turki
Published: August 2021

Adequate understanding of radiopharmaceutical distribution in the body of the patient has both spatial and temporal characteristics and they are the key factor to consider when planning successful radio pharmaceutical therapy, because they are an integral part of the radiation dosimetry calculations of any proposed personalized treatment. In this chapter we will focus on radioiodine therapy for thyroid cancer patients since it is a widely known practice in clinical oncology. Factors affecting the radioiodine organs’ distribution will be examined in sufficient details using the available published research in the scientific literature. The literature will be reviewed extensively and summarized in this chapter. Another aim is to provide the medical practitioners with a quick reference guide to this clinically important area of expertise; often mastered by medical physicists with background in radiation physics, mathematics and medical imaging analysis. This chapter will cover recent advances in the area of radioiodine biodistribution modeling with applications in preclinical and clinical studies.
Carbon Impacts of Engineered Wood Products in Construction
Authors: Gu Hongmei , Nepal Prakash , Arvanitis Matthew , Alderman Delton
Published: August 2021

Buildings and the construction sector together account for about 39% of the global energy-related CO2 emissions. Recent building designs are introducing promising new mass timber products that have the capacity to partially replace concrete and steel in traditional buildings. The inherently lower environmental impacts of engineered wood products for construction are seen as one of the key strategies to mitigate climate change through their increased use in the construction sector. This chapter synthesizes the estimated carbon benefits of using engineered wood products and mass timber in the construction sector based on insights obtained from recent Life Cycle Assessment studies in the topic area of reduced carbon emissions and carbon sequestration/storage.
The TIPE Model for Teaching Technology-Based Entrepreneurship
Authors: Sun Hongyi
Published: August 2021

It is widely believed that the technology-based entrepreneurship has great potential to increase wealth and competitiveness. Researchers believe that Technology-based Entrepreneurship Education (TEE) may raise students’ awareness about the technology entrepreneurship and the opportunities for technology commercialization. However, TEE has a relatively shorter history than conventional entrepreneurship education in business schools and there are fewer cases. This paper will use a revised 4W1H framework to review existing models of TEE and then present the TIPE model that has been implemented at a university in Hong Kong since 2001 for master students. Educational and policy implications are explored finally.
The Role of Woody Plant Functional Traits for Sustainable Soil Management in the Agroforestry System of Ethiopia
Authors: Tamrat Gebirehiwot Hana , Abera Kedanu Alemayehu , Tafesse Adugna Megersa
Published: August 2021

A woody plant functional trait that directly affects its fitness and environment is decisive to ensure the success of an Agroforestry practice. Hence, recognizing the woody plant functional traits is very important to boost and sustain the productivity of the system when different plants are sharing common resources, like in Agroforestry system. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to understand how woody plant functional traits contribute to sustainable soil management in Agroforestry system and to give the way forward in the case of Ethiopia. The contribution of woody plant species in improving soil fertility and controlling soil erosion is attributed by litter accumulation rate and the season, decomposability and nutrient content of the litter, root physical and chemical trait, and spread canopy structure functional trait. However, spread canopy structure functional trait is used in coffee based Agroforestry system, while with management in Parkland Agro forestry System. Woody species of Agroforestry system added a significant amount of soil TN, OC, Av.P, K, Na, Ca, and Mg nutrients to the soil. Woody plant species of Agroforestry system and their functional traits are very important to ensure sustainable soil management. Thus, further investigation of the woody plant functional traits especially the compatibility of trees with cops is needed to fully utilize the potential of woody species for sustainable soil management practice.
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Design and Installation at Chicamocha Canyon
Authors: Garcia-Rodriguez Luis-Fernando , Diego Rosero Ariza Juan , Luis Chacón Velazco Jorge , Ernesto Jaramillo Ibarra Julian
Published: August 2021

The use of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) in Colombia could tackle the energy distribution difficulties as large parts of the territory are not connected to the electrical grid. The present chapter explains how to design and select an accurate VAWT for a mountain site, (the Chicamocha’s canyon) by characterizing the wind energy potential, selecting the appropriate blade’s airfoil, and design its corresponding blades to obtain an accurate VAWT performance. This methodology can be used to design and allocate a VAWT for residential use, as it tackles the critical point on wind energy design and selection. It is found feasible the use of wind energy at the location where the mean year density power is 485 [W/m2], and the DU06W200 airfoil is suggested as its aerodynamic efficiency (cl/cd) overcomes by 14% the commonly used NACA0018. Finally, straight blades are recommended to overcome the inertial effects of the low wind velocity at the location.
Volunteering as an Explanatory Factor of Social Entrepreneurship: An Analysis of an Educational Context
Authors: Ruiz-Rosa Inés , J. García-Rodríguez Francisco , Delgado-Rodríguez Naira
Published: August 2021

The promotion of entrepreneurial intention in educational contexts is a priority that is increasingly present in academic planning, especially at university level. Furthermore, social entrepreneurship has been gaining prominence not only as a formula for improving the welfare and equity of society as a whole, but also as a mechanism for professional development. Taking into account both aspects, this paper analyzes the effect of university students participating in volunteer activities on their intention to carry out social entrepreneurship projects. With this objective, this study is based on the Theory of Planned Action of Ajzen. A sample of 208 university students was analyzed, 96 of whom had some experience of volunteering. The results confirm that taking part in volunteering, during students’ education, positively affects their intention to start social entrepreneurship projects. This result allows us to conclude that encouraging volunteering could be a good methodological tool to promote social entrepreneurship within the educational field. In addition, the implementation of this type of social project could benefit university students not only by making social improvements to their environment, but also as a labor insertion tool.
Recent Advances in Pre-Treatment of Plastic Packaging Waste
Authors: Kol Rita , Roosen Martijn , Ügdüler Sibel , M. Van Geem Kevin , Ragaert Kim , S. Achilias Dimitris , De Meester Steven
Published: August 2021

There is an urgent need to close the loop of plastic waste. One of the main challenges towards plastic packaging waste recycling is the presence of a variety of contaminants. These contaminants include organic residues, additives, labels, inks and also other plastic types that can be present in the waste stream due to missorting or in multimaterial structures (e.g. multilayer films in packaging). In this context, pre-treatment processes are a promising route to tackle the difficulties that are encountered in mechanical and chemical recycling due to these contaminants. This chapter gives better insight on the already existing pre-treatment techniques and on the advances that are being developed and/or optimized in order to achieve closed-loop recycling. Some of these advanced pre-treatments include chemical washing to remove inks (deinking), extraction methods to remove undesired plastic additives and dissolution-based pre-treatments, such as delamination and dissolution-precipitation techniques.
Activated Clays and Their Potential in the Cement Industry
Authors: Hernando Aramburo Varela Carlos , Felipe de Pinho Luiz , Pedrajas Nieto-Márquez César , Talero Morales Rafael
Published: August 2021

The thermal activation of clays to produce highly reactive artificial pozzolans on a large scale is one of the most important technologies developed on an industrial scale to reduce CO2 emissions in cement manufacture. This technical document deals with the scientific basis for the thermal activation of clays to produce an extraordinarily high quality supplementary cementitious material (SCM) based on the contents of its hydraulic factors, reactive silica (SiO2r–) and reactive alumina (Al2O3r–). The production process and the optimization of its use in the new cements offers better performance, features and durability. Furthermore, its mixture with Portland cement is much more appropriate when carried out in a blending station after both components, activated clay and Portland cement, are ground separately and not jointly in a single mill.
Predictive Factors for Positive HIV Test Results in a Hospital Setting
Authors: Ghahramani Sulmaz , Joulaei Hassan , Hoveidaei Amir Human , Rajabi Mohammadreza , Bagheri Lankarani Kamran
Published: August 2021

Background: Hospital admission for any reason provides the situation for voluntary HIV testing and consultation. Identifying the predictors of positivity may lead to a cost-effective method while enhancing professionalism. Objectives: To find the predictors of HIV-positive test result in a general hospital in Shiraz compared to a control group. Methods: In this case-control study, the records of all patients who received HIV testing upon their hospitalization in a general hospital in Shiraz, south of Iran, from January 2017 to the end of December 2017 were reviewed. For each HIV-positive case, at least one control from the same ward in the hospital with negative HIV test result was randomly selected. Based on the best-fitted model of logistic regression, the probability of positive HIV test results was estimated for each participant according to the risk factors, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn. Results: Out of 7333 persons who accepted to be tested, 77 patients tested positive for HIV, of whom 55 (71.4%) were male with the mean age of 41.5 ± 9.5 years. None of the HIV-positive patients were intravenous drug users, nor had they a history of imprisonment. The odds ratio (OR) was 21 for hepatitis-positive patients (hepatitis B and/or C) compared to negative ones, which was seven times higher in opium addicts than non-opium addicts. We developed a model using age, sex, opium addiction, and HBV and HCV status to predict the probability of being positive for HIV with an AUC of 0.853 (95% confidence interval 0.797 to 0.909). Conclusions: Hospital admission could be an appropriate momentum for providing voluntary counseling and testing. Infection with HBV and HCV are important risk factors for HIV infection, and additional testing should be offered, especially to these patients.
Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Intestinal Candida spp. in Tunisia
Authors: Ben-Rhouma Khouloud , Feki Ben-Salah Salma , Boulehmi Nada , Bouratbine Aida
Published: August 2021

Background: Yeasts naturally colonize the mammalian digestive tract and play an important role in health and disease. This community is composed of commensal yeasts, mostly Candida and Saccharomyces described as a part of the intestinal mycobiome and could be associated with resident or transient flora. Objectives: The aim of our study was to perform the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of culturable Candida isolates present in stool specimens of healthy Tunisian individuals and to evaluate their antifungal susceptibility. Methods: Yeasts were recovered from 46 stool samples cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar at 37°C. Species were identified using conventional methods and ITS-PCR sequencing. Candida isolates were tested by exploring their tolerance to oxidative stress and extreme acidic conditions. In addition, their biofilm formation ability and in vitro resistance to antifungals was determined by the VITEK 2 system. Results: The identification by sequencing the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of the 56 yeast strains isolated from 37 stool samples revealed that Candida was the dominant genus and was represented by Candida albicans (n = 21), C. parapsilosis (n = 10), C. glabrata (n = 9), and C. krusei (n = 9). In contrast, the other genera, including Trichosporon, Geotrichum, and Rhodotorula, were sporadically occurring. We found that most Candida isolates were able to form biofilms under oxidative stress and extreme pH conditions. Regarding antifungal susceptibility, a higher resistance rate to fluconazole was revealed in comparison to caspofungin and micafungin. However, no resistance was revealed against voriconazole, amphotericin B, and 5-flucytosine. Conclusions: This is the first work-generated data on cultivable yeasts from stool specimens of healthy individuals in Tunisia. Further metagenomic studies with a larger sample size are needed to better characterize the intestinal mycobiota.
Interaction of comparative struc­tu­res and their elements in modern russian prose
Authors: Nikolina Natalia A. , Petrova Zoya Yu. , Fateeva Natalya A.
Published: August 2021

The article explores the interaction of comparative constructions in modern prose. The main objective of the study is to determine the types of interaction between metaphors and similes in the texts of modern Russian prose. The material of the study is the works of Buida, Vodolazkin, Ivanov, Ilichevsky, Matveeva, Pelevin, Rubina, Slavnikova, Sokolov, Sorokin, and Stepnova. The authors employed the methods of description, comparison and the struc­tural-semantic analysis and also took into account the semantic field organisation of lexical units. The article distinguishes between formal and semantic interaction of metaphors and similes. The most obvious manifestation of the formal interaction is the reversibility of tropes. Semantic interaction is based on the semantic coordination of elements of comparative con­structions based on predicate-actant relations or involves a combination of metaphors and similes in the text based on various relations between elements of the same semantic field. Along with the indicated types of interaction, the article describes cases of multiple images of one depicted object and representation of different objects in a unified figurative way. These cases are characterized as a special type of interaction of comparative tropes. The article high­lights the main source domains of interacting tropes. The most frequent semantic classes of metaphors and similes used in interaction contexts are anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and culinary images. In addition to them, mechanistic (including computer), scientific and theat­rical metaphors and similes have been identified. The article shows that the interaction of tropes can be intertextual in a literary text. It is concluded that modern Russian prose is characterized by the interaction of metaphors and similes of different types. This interaction is often associated with the presence of contrast, contextual synonymy, the ‘genus — species’ relation between images of comparative constructions in a text.
Demographic and Social-Economic Determinants of Malnutrition among Children (0-23 Months Old) in Kenya
Authors: Mbogori Teresia , Muriuki James
Published: August 2021

Objective: To identify the demographic, social, and economic determinants of malnutrition in Kenya's children aged 0-23 months.

Methods: Data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), a nationally representative cross-sectional study conducted in 2014/2015, were used in this study. Data from children 0-23 months old with complete information on weight, height, age, and sex were used for analysis. Height for Age Z scores (HAZ), Weight for Height Z scores (WHZ), and BMI for age Z scores (BAZ) was determined using WHO guidelines to determine the nutritional status of the children. Chi-square statistics were used to determine the relationship between social-economic status and place of residence indicators and the nutritional status of the children. Significance was set at p <0.05.

Results: Among all participating (n=7578), 22.7% were stunted (HAZ < -2), 6.2% were wasted (WHZ < -2), and 6.1% were either overweight or obese (BAZ > 2). Wasting and stunting were significantly higher in children from rural areas, poorer wealth index, and mothers with no education. In contrast, children from urban areas, the richest wealth index category, and mothers with secondary or higher education were significantly more likely to be overweight or obese.

Conclusion: Current and future policies and programs to curb malnutrition in Kenya need to target specific needs of children based on their social-economic status, area of residence, and other demographic characteristics that were identified as determinants of child malnutrition instead of using a general approach.
Measuring and Predicting Intention of Senegalese Mothers to Provide Iron-Rich Foods to their Children
Authors: Akpaki Kossi , Galibois Isabelle , Blaney Sonia
Published: August 2021

In Senegal, only 43% of children aged 6-23 months are provided with iron-rich foods (IRF). Assessing determinants of mothers’ behaviour is imperative to improve young children nutrition. We developed a validated questionnaire and used it to assess psychosocial factors of mothers' intention to provide IRF to their children aged 6-23 months in the Matam area, Senegal. Using the planned behaviour theory, the first version of a questionnaire was developed and administered to 120 mothers. Exploratory factorial analyses (EFA) were used to generate a shorter and validated final version of the questionnaire, administered to another sample (N=100) of mothers to assess psychosocial factors underlying their intention to provide IRF to children. EFA revealed the importance of perceived benefits mothers have for the health/welfare of their children if providing them IRF, about acting according to expectations of persons in their surroundings and limited access to IRF due to physical/financial constraints. Attitude (β=0.26, p = 0.015) and subjective norm (β = 0.22, p = 0.047) were positively associated with mothers’ intention to provide IRF to their children. Together with sociodemographic variables, they explained 14% of its variance. Our findings revealed that mothers have a strong intention to provide IRF to their children. Although further assessments of this questionnaire are warranted in other contexts, this tool could provide information on potential determinants of mothers’ intention to provide IRF to children.
“Greening” the financial system of the country as an essential condition for solution of the “growth dilemma”
Authors: Sausheva Oksana Sergeevna
Published: August 2021

This article aims to examine the global trends of greening the financial system, as well as analyze the relevant issues and prospects for their solution within the Russian economy. The subject of this research is the transformation of the financial system of the Russian Federation in the context of ecological requirements, and their impact upon the level of national security of the country. The working scientific hypothesis of this research is based on recognition of the idea that greening the financial system, which is implies the transformation of financial and economic processes towards acknowledging the priority of ecological consequences of financial activity over the economic, seems inevitable in the med-term and even short-term perspectives. Therefore, the sooner Russia would be included in these processes, the more conditions would be created for sustainable and secure economic development. Taking into account the annually growing ecological footprint of the Russian economy, it is difficult to say if it is currently “green” or ecologically sustainable. A crucial role in these processes is played by the unpreparedness of the Russian financial system to meet the new ecological requirements. The article analyzes the current trends of “greening” the financial system of the Russian Federation from the standpoint of solving the “growth dilemma”. The author outlines the key obstacles to its development, namely the importance of solving the problem of “greenwashing”, transformation of the economic growth of the Russian Federation from the “brown” zone into the “green” zone, and problems of the taxonomy of green projects. The conclusion is made on the significance of the ongoing processes of “greening” with regards to the national security, and the need for the development of comprehensive state policy in this area due to a considerable “gap” between the financial and real economic sectors in the context of availability of environmental investments and readiness of majority of the Russian companies thereof.
The role of folklore within the worldview and creative individuality of the Crimean Tatar children's writers
Authors: Seferova Fera
Published: August 2021

The study of interrelation between folklore and literature is one of the most relevant trends in literary studies. Folk poetic symbols as the genetic memory of the nation infiltrate consciousness not only as artistic material, but also as a emotions that awaken the writer’s imagination, giving rise to various associations. The subject of this research is the creative activity of folklore is in the works of the Crimean Tatar children's writers. Examination of the folklore-mythological context, determination of the peculiarities of transformation of folklore motifs in a literary reveals the creative laboratory, allowing determining the specificities of personal reflection of the writer, as well as tracing the psychological patterns of the creative process, and the evolution of artistic thinking overall. The scientific novelty is defined by the absence within Russian literary studies of monographic and significant critical works on determination of the folklore-mythological context, transformation, functionality, and interpretation of folklore elements in works of the writers. The conclusion is made that folklore as part of the culture of a particular nation, is an organic element of the artistic world of the Crimean Tatar writers, such as E. Amit and T. Khalilov. The novel by E. Amit presents the new comprehension of myths, paroemias, and legends. An example of interaction of the mythological views and modern perspective in the novel “Last Chance” is the folk legend on the “happy and unhappy stars”. It also encompasses such ancient forms of folklore as cursing and benevolence, as well as the elements that take roots in the ancient taboos, the period of totemism. In the psychological prose by T. Khalilov, an important role is played by the symbolism of birds and plants. The ancient legend of the winged horse Duldul organically intertwines with the author's creative idea without losing its specificity.
Characteristics of non-Maxwellian magnetized sheath with secondary electron emission
Authors: Chen Long , Sun Shao-Juan , Jiang Bo-Rui , Duan Ping , An Yu-Hao , Yang Ye-Hui ,   School of Science, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
Published: August 2021

In this paper, the effects of non-Maxwellian distribution of electrons on the characteristics of magnetized plasma sheath with secondary electron emission are investigated by using a magnetic fluid model of one-dimensional velocity and three-dimensional space. The velocity of electrons follows the non-extensive distribution, and the ions are magnetized in a magnetic field with a certain tilt angle relative to the wall. The effects of the non-extensive electron distribution parameter q and the magnetic field strength and angle on the Bohm criterion, the floating wall potential, the secondary electron number density at the sheath edge, the sheath thickness and the ion velocity are studied by establishing the self-consistent equations. When the electron velocity distribution deviates from the Maxwellian distribution, the results show that as the q-parameter increases, the value of the Bohm criterion decreases, the floating wall potential increases, the number of secondary electrons at the sheath increases, the sheath thickness decreases, the number density of ions and electrons decline faster, the number density of ions near the wall is higher, and the velocities of the ions in the three directions are all reduced. In addition, as the magnetic field strength increases, the sheath thickness decreases, and the number density of ions and electrons in the sheath area decrease rapidly; the larger the magnetic field angle, the more significant the influences of the parameter q on the wall potential and the sheath thickness are, while the velocity component of the ion in the x-direction decreases with the increase of the magnetic field angle, but in the case of super-extensive distribution (q < 1), the velocity change near the wall presents an opposite trend, the increase of magnetic field angle causes wall velocity to increase; when it is close to Maxwellian distribution (q → 1), the velocity near the wall does not depend on the change of the magnetic field angle and basically tends to be identical; in the case of sub-extensive distribution (q > 1), the velocity near the wall decreases with the magnetic field angle increasing.
Learning in Governance
Authors: Rietig Katharina
Published: August 2021

An investigation of the role of learning and its impact on policy change, as exemplified in European Union climate policy integration.

Although learning is often considered an important factor in effective environmental governance, it is not clear to what extent learning affects decision making and policy outcomes. In this book, Katharina Rietig examines the role of learning—understood as additional knowledge or experience that is taken into account by policymakers—in earth system governance and policy change. She does this by examining learning in European Union climate policy integration, looking in detail at the examples of the Renewable Energy Directive, its controversial biofuels component, and the greening measures in the Common Agricultural Policy.

To examine how learning occurs in the policy process, how to differentiate aspects of learning, and under what conditions learning matters for policy outcomes, Rietig introduces the Learning in Governance Framework, applying it to analyze the EU examples. She finds that policy outcomes are affected through leadership of policy entrepreneurs, who use previously acquired knowledge and past experience to achieve outcomes aligned with their deeper beliefs and policy objectives. She concludes that learning does matter in governance as an intervening variable and can affect policy outcomes in combination with dedicated leadership by policy entrepreneurs who act as learning brokers. Bargaining dominates the policymaking process among actors who represent the interests of different organizations. Rietig's theoretical framework, empirical studies, and nuanced analysis offer a new perspective on the relevance of learning in earth system governance.
The BigBrainWarp toolbox for integration of BigBrain 3D histology with multimodal neuroimaging
Authors: Paquola Casey , Royer Jessica , Lewis Lindsay B , Lepage Claude , Glatard Tristan , Wagstyl Konrad , DeKraker Jordan , Toussaint Paule-J , Valk Sofie L , Collins Louis , Khan Ali R , Amunts Katrin , Evans Alan C , Dickscheid Timo , Bernhardt Boris
Published: August 2021

Neuroimaging stands to benefit from emerging ultrahigh-resolution 3D histological atlases of the human brain; the first of which is ‘BigBrain’. Here, we review recent methodological advances for the integration of BigBrain with multi-modal neuroimaging and introduce a toolbox, ’BigBrainWarp’, that combines these developments. The aim of BigBrainWarp is to simplify workflows and support the adoption of best practices. This is accomplished with a simple wrapper function that allows users to easily map data between BigBrain and standard MRI spaces. The function automatically pulls specialised transformation procedures, based on ongoing research from a wide collaborative network of researchers. Additionally, the toolbox improves accessibility of histological information through dissemination of ready-to-use cytoarchitectural features. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of BigBrainWarp with three tutorials and discuss the potential of the toolbox to support multi-scale investigations of brain organisation.