bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wearable Devices in Health Monitoring from the Environmental towards Multiple Domains: A Survey
Authors: Haghi Mostafa , Danyali Saeed , Ayasseh Sina , Wang Ju , Aazami Rahmat , Deserno Thomas M.
Published: March 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the environmental, behavioral, physiological, and psychological domains that impact adversely human health, well-being, and quality of life (QoL) in general. The environmental domain has significant interaction with the others. With respect to proactive and personalized medicine and the Internet of medical things (IoMT), wearables are most important for continuous health monitoring. In this work, we analyze wearables in healthcare from a perspective of innovation by categorizing them according to the four domains. Furthermore, we consider the mode of wearability, costs, and prolonged monitoring. We identify features and investigate the wearable devices in the terms of sampling rate, resolution, data usage (propagation), and data transmission. We also investigate applications of wearable devices. Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and ACM Library delivered wearables that we require to monitor at least one environmental parameter, e.g., a pollutant. According to the number of domains, from which the wearables record data, we identify groups: G1, environmental parameters only; G2, environmental and behavioral parameters; G3, environmental, behavioral, and physiological parameters; and G4 parameters from all domains. In total, we included 53 devices of which 35, 9, 9, and 0 belong to G1, G2, G3, and G4, respectively. Furthermore, 32, 11, 7, and 5 wearables are applied in general health and well-being monitoring, specific diagnostics, disease management, and non-medical. We further propose customized and quantified output for future wearables from both, the perspectives of users, as well as physicians. Our study shows a shift of wearable devices towards disease management and particular applications. It also indicates the significant role of wearables in proactive healthcare, having capability of creating big data and linking to external healthcare systems for real-time monitoring and care delivery at the point of perception.
Sensor-Based Human Activity Recognition with Spatio-Temporal Deep Learning
Authors: Nafea Ohoud , Abdul Wadood , Muhammad Ghulam , Alsulaiman Mansour
Published: March 2021

Human activity recognition (HAR) remains a challenging yet crucial problem to address in computer vision. HAR is primarily intended to be used with other technologies, such as the Internet of Things, to assist in healthcare and eldercare. With the development of deep learning, automatic high-level feature extraction has become a possibility and has been used to optimize HAR performance. Furthermore, deep-learning techniques have been applied in various fields for sensor-based HAR. This study introduces a new methodology using convolution neural networks (CNN) with varying kernel dimensions along with bi-directional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) to capture features at various resolutions. The novelty of this research lies in the effective selection of the optimal video representation and in the effective extraction of spatial and temporal features from sensor data using traditional CNN and BiLSTM. Wireless sensor data mining (WISDM) and UCI datasets are used for this proposed methodology in which data are collected through diverse methods, including accelerometers, sensors, and gyroscopes. The results indicate that the proposed scheme is efficient in improving HAR. It was thus found that unlike other available methods, the proposed method improved accuracy, attaining a higher score in the WISDM dataset compared to the UCI dataset (98.53% vs. 97.05%).
Classification of Standing and Walking States Using Ground Reaction Forces
Authors: Park Ji Su , Koo Sang-Mo , Kim Choong Hyun
Published: March 2021

The operation of wearable robots, such as gait rehabilitation robots, requires real-time classification of the standing or walking state of the wearer. This report explains a technique that measures the ground reaction force (GRF) using an insole device equipped with force sensing resistors, and detects whether the insole wearer is standing or walking based on the measured results. The technique developed in the present study uses the waveform length that represents the sum of the changes in the center of pressure within an arbitrary time window as the determining factor, and applies this factor to a conventional threshold method and an artificial neural network (ANN) model for classification of the standing and walking states. The results showed that applying the newly developed technique could significantly reduce classification errors due to shuffling movements of the patient, typically noticed in the conventional threshold method using GRF, i.e., real-time classification of the standing and walking states is possible in the ANN model. The insole device used in the present study can be applied not only to gait analysis systems used in wearable robot operations, but also as a device for remotely monitoring the activities of daily living of the wearer.
Erratum: Rêgo Segundo, A.K.; et al. Capacitive Impedance Measurement: Dual-Frequency Approach. Sensors 2019, 19, 2539
Authors: Rêgo Segundo Alan Kardek , Silva Pinto Érica , Almeida Santos Gabriel , de Barros Monteiro Paulo Marcos
Published: March 2021

There was two errors in the original article [...]
A Review of Relevant Regulations, Requirements and Assessment Methods Concerning Physical Load in Workplaces in the Slovak Republic
Authors: Makovicka Osvaldova Linda , Sventekova Eva , Maly Stanislav , Dlugos Ivan
Published: March 2021

This review brings an overview of the Slovak regulations concerning occupational safety and health at work (OSH) primarily considering the parameter of physical load. In addition to regulations, this article focuses on particular requirements at workplaces with an increased physical load and describes the permissible values of the physical load (see tables). Attention is given to assessing the working posture and handling of loads. The main purpose of the evaluation is to determine the parameters of physical load, which is the first important step in the process of health risk assessment. Based on the physical load assessment and the categorization of tasks for the physical load factor in the Slovak Republic, further steps and measures should be taken to improve working conditions, to reduce the workload, number of health problems, fatigue, and ultimately to prevent accidents at work and work-related musculoskeletal diseases.
How to Build Pride in the Workplace?
Authors: Pereira Leandro , Patrício Vânia , Sempiterno Mariana , da Costa Renato Lopes , Dias Álvaro , António Nélson
Published: March 2021

Organizational pride has been proved to benefit organizations by enhancing commitment and reducing turnover cost, encouraging employees to go a step further and consequently increase production and improve performance. Despite the fact that its effects on organizations have been studied, it is still not clear how can organizational pride be created. The aim of this research is to identify the drivers of organizational pride and define strategies that help organizations develop it. Its main contribution is that it performs a comprehensive study on the causes of organizational pride, not focusing only on one or two contributors and not considering organizational pride as an intermediary but as a goal. Using a partial least square path model it was possible to conclude that organizations need to make employees feel appreciated by involving them in the decision making process, and promote the organization’s values so employees can relate to them and maintain honest communications to enhance management credibility.
Transformation to Healthy Water Ecology—Institutional Requirements, Deficits and Options in European and German Perspective
Authors: Reese Moritz
Published: March 2021

The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) obliges EU Member States to achieve good ecological status in all surface waters by 2027 at the latest. In many regions, this implies fundamental transformation from engineered water landscapes back to near-natural structures. By example of the German State of Lower Saxony it is shown how this transformation of water landscapes essentially requires a transformation of the institutional foundations of water management, too. It is argued from a legal perspective that certain general, justiciable minimum requirements are to be deduced from the WFD as to (1) planning and enforcement of restoration measures, (2) land acquisition, (3) organisation and (4) finance which delimit the ample margins Member States enjoy in designing the institutional substructure. With regard to Lower Saxony, it is explained why this State is clearly failing to meet the minimum requirements and how it needs to transform its institutional arrangements to make them fit for purpose. The article concludes that WFD enforcement should pay more attention to the institutional underpinning and it submits that examples and benchmarks should be further explored by comparative research.
The Importance of Regulation in Natural Immunity to HIV
Authors: Blondin-Ladrie Laurence , Aranguren Matheus , Doyon-Laliberté Kim , Poudrier Johanne , Roger Michel
Published: March 2021

Worldwide, most Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections are acquired through heterosexual intercourse, and in sub-Saharan Africa, 59% of new HIV infections affect women. Vaccines and microbicides hold promise for preventing the acquisition of HIV. To this end, the study of HIV highly exposed seronegative (HESN) female commercial sex workers (CSWs), who constitute a model of natural immunity to HIV, provides an exceptional opportunity to determine important clues for the development of preventive strategies. Studies using both female genital tract (FGT) and peripheral blood samples of HESN CSWs, have allowed identifying distinct features, notably low-inflammatory patterns associated with resistance to infection. How this seemingly regulated response is achieved at the initial site of HIV infection remains unknown. One hypothesis is that populations presenting regulatory profiles contribute to the orchestration of potent anti-viral and low-inflammatory responses at the initial site of HIV transmission. Here, we view to update our knowledge regarding this issue.
Design of Alphavirus Virus-Like Particles Presenting Circumsporozoite Junctional Epitopes That Elicit Protection against Malaria
Authors: Francica Joseph R. , Shi Wei , Chuang Gwo-Yu , Chen Steven J. , Da Silva Pereira Lais , Farney S. Katie , Flynn Barbara J. , Ou Li , Stephens Tyler , Tsybovsky Yaroslav , Wang Lawrence T. , Anderson Alexander , Beck Zoltan , Dillon Marlon , Idris Azza H. , Hurlburt Nicholas , Liu Tracy , Zhang Baoshan , Alving Carl R. , Matyas Gary R. , Pancera Marie , Mascola John R. , Kwong Peter D. , Seder Robert A.
Published: March 2021

The most advanced malaria vaccine, RTS,S, includes the central repeat and C-terminal domains of the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP). We have recently isolated human antibodies that target the junctional region between the N-terminal and repeat domains that are not included in RTS,S. Due to the fact that these antibodies protect against malaria challenge in mice, their epitopes could be effective vaccine targets. Here, we developed immunogens displaying PfCSP junctional epitopes by genetic fusion to either the N-terminus or B domain loop of the E2 protein from chikungunya (CHIK) alphavirus and produced CHIK virus-like particles (CHIK-VLPs). The structural integrity of these junctional-epitope–CHIK-VLP immunogens was confirmed by negative-stain electron microscopy. Immunization of these CHIK-VLP immunogens reduced parasite liver load by up to 95% in a mouse model of malaria infection and elicited better protection than when displayed on keyhole limpet hemocyanin, a commonly used immunogenic carrier. Protection correlated with PfCSP serum titer. Of note, different junctional sequences elicited qualitatively different reactivities to overlapping PfCSP peptides. Overall, these results show that the junctional epitopes of PfCSP can induce protective responses when displayed on CHIK-VLP immunogens and provide a basis for the development of a next generation malaria vaccine to expand the breadth of anti-PfCSP immunity.
Exploring the Willingness to Accept SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in a University Population in Southern Italy, September to November 2020
Authors: Di Giuseppe Gabriella , Pelullo Concetta Paola , Della Polla Giorgia , Pavia Maria , Angelillo Italo Francesco
Published: March 2021

Understanding whether members of the university population are willing to receive a future vaccination against COVID-19 and identifying barriers may help public health authorities to develop effective strategies and interventions to contain COVID-19. This cross-sectional study explored the willingness to accept a future SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in a university population in Southern Italy. The perceived risk level of developing COVID-19 was 6.5 and it was significantly higher among females, younger subjects, and those who agreed/strongly agreed that COVID-19 is a severe disease. Only 21.4% of respondents were not worried at all regarding the safety of the vaccine. Males, not being married/cohabitant, being a faculty member, those who perceived a lower risk of developing COVID-19, and those who did not need information regarding the vaccination against COVID-19 were significantly more likely to have no concern at all regarding the safety of the vaccine. The vast majority (84.1%) were willing to receive a future vaccine against COVID-19. Almost coherently with predictors of concern on the safety of the vaccine, being male, not being married/cohabitant, being a faculty member, not being concerned at all that COVID-19 vaccination might not be safe, and agreeing that COVID-19 can have serious health consequences were significant predictors of the willingness to receive the vaccine against COVID-19. A considerable proportion of the population had a positive willingness to receive the future COVID-19 vaccine, although some concerns have been expressed regarding the effectiveness and safety and public health activities seem necessary to achieve the rate that can lead to the protection of the community.
Is COVID-19 a Real Incentive for Flu Vaccination? Let the Numbers Speak for Themselves
Authors: Di Pumpo Marcello , Vetrugno Giuseppe , Pascucci Domenico , Carini Elettra , Beccia Viria , Sguera Anna , Zega Maurizio , Pani Marcello , Cambieri Andrea , Nurchis Mario Cesare , D’Ambrosio Floriana , Damiani Gianfranco , Laurenti Patrizia
Published: March 2021

Seasonal flu vaccination is one of the most important strategies for preventing influenza. The attitude towards flu vaccination in light of the COVID-19 pandemic has so far been studied in the literature mostly with the help of surveys and questionnaires. Whether a person chooses to be vaccinated or not during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, speaks louder than any declaration of intention. In our teaching hospital, we registered a statistically significant increase in flu vaccination coverage across all professional categories between the 2019/2020 and the 2020/2021 campaign (24.19% vs. 54.56%, p < 0.0001). A linear regression model, based on data from four previous campaigns, predicted for the 2020/2021 campaign a total flu vaccination coverage of 30.35%. A coverage of 54.46% was, instead, observed, with a statistically significant difference from the predicted value (p < 0.0001). The COVID-19 pandemic can, therefore, be considered as an incentive that significantly and dramatically increased adherence to flu vaccination among our healthcare workers.
Effects of aromatic plant extract mixture on laying efficiency, egg quality and antioxidant status in laying quails
Authors: KARAKCI Deniz , ÇETİN İsmail , ÇETİN Ece , YEŞİLBAĞ Derya
Published: March 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of commercial plant extract mixture added to laying quail rations on performance, egg quality, plasma antioxidant and blood biochemical parameters. In this experiment, 160 Japanese quails aged twelve weeks were equally divided into four groups of 40 (five replicates of 8 quails each). The study included a control and three treatment groups. The treatment groups were as follows: (1) 100 mg/kg aromatic plant extract mixture-group 1; (2) 150 mg/kg aromatic plant extract mixture-group 2 (3) 200 mg/kg aromatic plant extract mixture-group 3, respectively. When examined the egg parameters at the end of the study, significant differences (P<0.05) were found in the parameters of egg weight, Haugh unit (HU), albumen index, egg yolk color and eggshell thickness. Egg weight and eggshell thickness values were measured the highest (P<0.05) in group 1. HU, egg yellow color and albumen index values were found significantly higher (P<0.05) in all experimental groups compared to the control group. Significant differences (P<0.05) were determined in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) values of plasma antioxidant parameters in the study. In the study, High density lipoprotein (HDL) value, one of the blood (plasma) parameters, was found to be higher (P< 0.001) in the experimental groups. Consequently, we can say that the addition of herbal extract mixture to quail diets increases egg quality and has a positive effect on cholesterol and plasma antioxidant parameters
Pelatihan Yoga Asanas Untuk Menurunkan Stres Remaja di SMA dan SMK Negeri Kecamatan Sukawati, Kabupaten Gianyar Tahun 2019
Authors: Sumirta I Nengah , Sukarja I made , Labir I ketut , Suratiah Suratiah , Dewa ayu Surinati , Yunianti SC Luh putu , Wijanegara I gede
Published: March 2021

One problem that are very popular and often plagued. teenagers is stressThe problem of stress happened to teenagers are almost inevitable.Mentioned this time as a period “storm and pressure”, in most teenagers, hambatan-hambatan in their lives would be disturbing physical fitness and emotions, destroy motivation and the ability to success in school and destroy their personal relationships. One of the activities can solve the problems of youth it is doing yoga asanas .The purpose of this activity is to help reduce the stress experienced by young people in adapt to environmental niches. The results show pre test found most were being level ( 66 % ), and to post a test found there is a slight extent to which is as much as 68 people ( 68 % ) test results on the analysis found p value 0,000, there an effect training yoga asanas terhaap teenage stress level. Keywords: Remaja, Stres, Yoga Asanas.
Pemanfaatan Media Penyuluhan Gizi Lembar Balik oleh Dokter Kecil Dalam Program UKS Di Sekolah Dasar Kecamatan Sukawati Kabupaten Gianyar Tahun 2019
Authors: Suiraoka I Putu , Kusumayanti GA Dewi
Published: March 2021

This program focuses on health education activities by little doctors using applicative extension media in terms of applying food diversity, selecting healthy snacks and eating breakfast. The purpose of this community service activity is to conduct training and measure changes in the knowledge of small doctors before and after the training on the use of flipchart nutrition counseling media by little doctors in the UKS program. The targets in this activity are Little Doctors in SD N 1, SDN 2 and SDN 3 Batubulan Kangin. Community service activities were carried out in July 2019 which included pre-test, training, post-test, counseling with a flip sheet by a small doctor to target elementary school children in their neighborhood. The number of targets in the three elementary schools is 57 people. Descriptively the age of the small doctor ranged from 9 years to 12 years, with an average age of 10.33 years and a standard deviation of 0.76 years. The knowledge pre-test results show the lowest value of 45 and the highest value of 95 with an average of 72.45 and a standard deviation of 12.50. In counseling training activities using flipchart media on little doctors in SD N 1, 2 and 3 Batubulan miss it can be observed that the small doctors are very enthusiastic to follow and try. This is because the flipchart is something new and is easily applied by them. The results of the post-test knowledge showed an increase compared to the pre-test data. The lowest value is 50 and the highest value is 100 with an average of 76.05 and a standard deviation of 11.79. There was a significant increase in knowledge based on paired t test results (p 0.05). Based on a review of the results of community service activities, it can be suggested that counseling activities carried out by small doctors are more often done. This adds to the knowledge and insight of elementary school children about healthy, nutritious and balanced food. Counseling is done more easily by using flipchat Keywords: Nutrition education, Litle doctors, Flipchart, School Health Program
Penerapan Radial Basis Function Neural Network dalam Pengklasifikasian Daerah Tertinggal di Indonesia
Authors: Wahyuningrum Vira
Published: March 2021

Penetapan daerah tertinggal di Indonesia merupakan kasus pengklasifikasian dengan dua kategori pada variabel respon (biner). Pengklasifikasian dengan metode klasifikasi linier yang umum digunakan yaitu regresi logistik pada tahap eksplorasi data menghasilkan misclassification yang relatif besar, sehingga diperlukan suatu metode alternatif. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) merupakan alternatif yang menjanjikan untuk berbagai metode klasifikasi konvensional. Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBFNN) merupakan salah satu arsitektur ANN yang populer digunakan dalam klasifikasi. Metode RBFNN menggunakan dua pendekatan yaitu supervised dan unsupervised serta dalam beberapa penelitian menghasilkan akurasi klasifikasi yang tinggi. Penelitian ini bertujuan menerapkan metode RBFNN untuk kasus klasifikasi daerah tertinggal di Indonesia untuk melihat arsitektur RBFNN yang terbentuk dan ketepatan klasifikasi yang dihasilkan. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah penerapan RBFNN memberikan performa yang sangat baik yaitu nilai akurasi  sebesar 93,48 persen, sensitivitas 81,10 persen dan spesifikasi 97,43 persen. Nilai F-Measure arsitektur RBFNN yang dihasilkan mencapai 85,36 persen.
Prediksi Harga Emas Dunia di Masa Pandemi Covid-19 Menggunakan Model ARIMA
Authors: Anggraeni Dara Puspita , Rosadi Dedi , Hermansah Hermansah , Rizal Ahmad Ashril
Published: March 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan memodelkan serta memprediksi harga emas dunia di masa pandemi COVID-19. Penelitian ini juga hanya memasukkan nilai masa lampau dari harga emas dunia tanpa adanya pengaruh faktor eksogen(independen) pada model. Model yang dipergunakan adalah model Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA). Adapun data yang dipergunakan pada permodelan sebanyak 240 data observasi dimana data merupakan data bulanan harga emas dunia bulan Agustus 2000 hingga Juli 2020. Model terbaik untuk harga emas dunia ini adalah ARIMA(0,1,1) dengan nilai Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) sebesar 3,70%. Hasil prediksi harga emas dunia untuk bulan Agustus 2020 hingga Januari 2021 berturut-turut adalah sebesar 1930,046; 1945,651; 1961,381; 1977,240; 1993,227; 2009,343 US$/Troy Ons emas. Prediksi ini menunjukkan tren naik dengan rata-rata peningkatan selama periode tersebut (Agustus 2020-Januari 2021) sebesar15,8594 US$/Troy ons per bulannya.
30 Years for the Benefit of Cosmonautics.
Authors: Barmin I.V.
Published: March 2021

The paper is devoted to the 30th anniversary of scientific and public activity of K.E. Tsiolkovsky Russian Academy of Cosmonautics. Debatable questions regarding an initiator of establishing the Academy are discussed. The main stages of TRAC's activity are mentioned. The presidents and honorary presidents of TRAC are listed. The stuff members of TRAC are presented. The main achievements of the Academy are described.
Study of Respiratory System Response During Decompression of a Pressurized Compartment.
Authors: Matyushev T.V. , Dvornikov M.V. , Petrov M.A.
Published: March 2021

The paper presents a solution for modeling the dynamics of human gas ex-change indicators in space flight based on a static model of the respiratory sys-tem, taking into account the peculiarities of gas exchange process. The paper also describes a computational experiment which was carried out to simulate indicators during ascent, demonstrating the capabilities of the model to predict the state of the respiratory system. The simulation results show that a decrease in the total barometric pressure leads to the respiratory capacity changes: the volume of the alveolar space decreases and the tidal dead space volume in-creases in the ratio from 4.7 to 0.7. A noncompensated respiratory alkalosis leading to the acid-base disorders develops as well. The computational experi-ment applied under the considered methodological approach allows studying the problems related to the flight safety and risk management under various operating modes of life support systems.
Rechtliche Herausforderungen sozialer Mobilitätsplattformen – am Beispiel des „Umweltmobilitätshub“ des Research Lab for Urban Transport
Authors: Schäfer Petra K. , Wendt Domenik H. , Weiser Franziska , Tamm Deike Alauda
Published: March 2021

Das ReLUT forscht zu einem neuartigen Mobilitätskonzept namens „Umweltmobilitätshub“, das auf die Bedürfnisse von Quartierenim suburbanen Raum ausgerichtet ist. Durchgeführt wird eine interdisziplinäre Potenzialanalyse, welche neben Fragenzu Nachhaltigkeit, Nutzungsbereitschaft und Wirtschaftlichkeit auch Fragen zu den rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen begutachtet,die in diesem Aufsatz präsentiert werden sollen.
Study of structural transitions in polymers by non-destructive testing
Authors: Popov O. N. , Mainikova N. F. , Kostromina N. V. , Kravchenko T. P. , Gorbunova I. Yu.
Published: March 2021

Examples of the implementation of non-destructive testing of structural transitions in polymer materials are presented. The method for determining the temperature of structural transitions is developed on the basis of the formulated boundary value problem of non-stationary thermal conductivity and its solution. When the polymers are heated, the values of the thermophysical properties change abnormally in the region of the structural transition. The measuring and thermal schemes of the method, the block diagram and the description of the measuring system are presented. The results of the experimental implementation of the method are presented.
Thermoplastic films for damping laminated materials with improved water resistance
Authors: Syatkovskii A. I. , Skuratova T. B. , Krilova Y. V. , Simonov-Emelyanov I. D.
Published: March 2021

This article covers the development of the thermoplastic extrusion films made of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVA) and poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) for use as an inner layer in metal-polymer-metal multiple-layered vibro-damping materials that can work in contact with water. The effect of the amount of the introduced plasticizer on the dynamic properties of polymer films made of PVA and PBMA is studied on the example of plasticizers from the group of esters of dicarboxylic acids, organic phosphates and chloroparaffins. The processes of water sorption by polymer films and washing out plasticizers from them have been investigated. It has been demonstrated that PBMA-based films containing chlorinated paraffins as a plasticizer have the best water resistance.
Research of physically modified antifriction-wear-resistant composite polymer materials and coatings on their basis for machine-building purpose
Authors: Negmatov S. S. , Abed N. S. , Negmatova K. S. , Halimjonov T. S. , Sadikova M. M. , Matsharipova M. M. , Ulmasov T. U. , Bozorboev Sh. A. , Abdullaev O. Kh. , Mahamajanov Z. U.
Published: March 2021

The article presents the results of studies of the tribotechnical properties of composite thermosetting polymeric materials based on an epoxy compound and ultrasonicated oligomeric fillers operating under conditions of contact interaction with a pulp using the example of raw cotton. Regularities of changes in tribotechnical properties (coefficient of friction, intensity of wear) of composite thermosetting epoxy polymeric materials associated with their filling with organomineral fillers and ultrasonic treatment, in contact with raw cotton have been revealed. The temperature and the magnitude of the electrostatic charge arising in the friction zone of rubbing polymer- cotton and composite-cotton pairs on the type and content of organic-mineral fillers were studied.
Influence of conformations of flexible-chain polymers on changes in polarization in an inhomogeneous temperature field
Authors: Matveev N. N. , Lisitsyn V. I. , Saushkin V. V. , Kamalova N. S.
Published: March 2021

Due to the widespread use of polyethylene oxide (PEO) in modern technologies, studies of the relationship between its supramolecular structure and properties by means of modeling methods have recently intensified, but usually the conformational features of the structure of polymers are not taken into account in modeling. Using the example of PEO, the article substantiates a method for calculating the influence of the conformations of a polymer molecule on the temperature dependence of the averaged square of the dipole moment of its molecules.
Assessing pension-related tax expenditures in South Africa: Evidence from the 2016 retirement reform
Authors: Redonda Agustin , Axelson Christopher
Published: March 2021

In 2016, the South African government introduced a comprehensive reform to simplify and harmonize the pension system in order to incentivize pension savings and increase the fairness of the retirement system.

Using administrative tax micro-data, we assess the impact of the 2016 reform and find that it triggered a positive impact on the extensive margin (the number of people contributing to pension funds) and a less sharp yet positive effect on the intensive margin (the average value of contributions).

The reform was not effective at mitigating the regressive impact of the retirement system because the number of individuals contributing to retirement funds increased relatively more for top earners, and it has also exacerbated the gap between low- and high-income individuals on the intensive margin side.

In addition, more resources were allocated to pension-related tax expenditures, which have been proven to be highly concentrated among rich earners, both before and after the reform, hence exacerbating inequality.
Trade effects of the East Africa Customs Union in Tanzania: Application of a structural gravity model
Authors: Leyaro Vincent
Published: March 2021

By measuring the effects of forming and joining a regional integration bloc using an augmented structural gravity model, this paper finds that the East African Community (EAC) and EAC Customs Union have significantly enhanced Tanzanian trade into EAC markets.

Kenya has continued to be the main trading partner for Tanzania in the EAC markets, and from 2015 onwards the trade deficit with Kenya changed into a surplus, signalling improvement in the balance of trade. Tanzania has also maintained a significant trade balance surplus with the other EAC Partner States.

There have, however, been no significant changes in Tanzania’s trade patterns, which have remained primarily inter-industry rather than intra-industry, signalling a lack of structural change and productivity in the economy and suggesting that Tanzania’s trade in EAC markets is not linked with industrialization and transformation.

Furthermore, continued trade imbalances, especially with Kenya, threaten a backlash in the long term and are not healthy for the future and sustainability of the EAC integration process.
Alguma coisa está fora do tempo: a doutrina da guerra revolucionária e o delírio anticomunista da família Bolsonaro
Authors: Godinho Faria Fabiano
Published: March 2021

FARIA, Fabiano Godinho. Alguma coisa está fora do tempo: a doutrina da guerra revolucionária e o delírio anticomunista da família Bolsonaro. In: FARIA, Fabiano Godinho; MARQUES, Mauro Luiz Barbosa (Org.). Giros à direita: análises e perspectivas sobre o campo líbero-conservador. Sobral-CE: Editora SertãoCult, 2020, p. 122-158.
Uma direita “plural”: configurações ideológicas e organizações políticas da direita brasileira contemporânea
Authors: Gentile Fábio
Published: March 2021

GENTILE, Fábio. Uma direita “plural”: configurações ideológicas e organizações políticas da direita brasileira contemporânea. In: FARIA, Fabiano Godinho; MARQUES, Mauro Luiz Barbosa (Org.). Giros à direita: análises e perspectivas sobre o campo líbero-conservador. Sobral-CE: Editora SertãoCult, 2020, p. 222-240.
Proposal for a development model for the Farmacias del Ahorro chain in Villahermosa, Tabasco
Authors: Torres-Torres Adan , Notario-Priego Ezequiel , Martinez-Gutierrez Ana Cecilia , Mendoza-Wilson Angela Del Carmen
Published: March 2021

At present, it is very important to carry out an analysis of the productivity of the organization, because it is necessary to know where it is and where it is going, this in order to have a clear idea of the present, as well as future plans . In this work, a comprehensive and reliable scenario will be designed through formal context measurement tools that allow us to develop a proposal for a development model. The research will work under a quantitative approach because the observed phenomena are measured and quantified by giving a statistical analysis, in addition to the types of research used; documentary, since documents and statistics will be used to perform the analysis in addition to applying surveys and evaluations to pharmacies belonging to said area and the correlational, since the context variables, their interrelation, will be analyzed to determine their impact on the research . This work will increase the benefits for the organization, including having current data and statistics about productivity, as well as a proposal for improvement that will allow us to reduce the deficiencies in the organization in order to achieve a competitive advantage over its competitors.
Identify healthy and dead cells simultaneity of Bacillus subtilis MZ through to use of propidium iodide and acridine orange
Authors: Herrera-Reyes Naieli , Olalde-Portugal Víctor , Sanchez-Segura Lino
Published: March 2021

The use of microorganism in a lot of process brings the development of new technologies. For guarantee the effect and the impact of the microorganism, even, the production rate when these microorganisms are involved in the production of a particular compound, become necessary know the number and condition of this organism. In the actuality, there are a lot of tools to identify this condition, since kits of staining cells, until, the best microscopy technology. But the use of this tools could become inaccessible due the high cost and in the case of de staining kits had a limited test. Then emerge the necessity to search and implement news methodologies to help us to identify health and death cells in different inoculs or products. In this work, we proposed a new technology for the simultaneous observation of healthy and dead cells trough the staining samples with propidium iodide and acridine orange using an optic microscopy with incandescent light and ultraviolet light.
On Cognitive Validity of Religious Experience
Authors: Salamon Janusz
Published: March 2021

Does the alleged religious experience of a mystic constitute a reliable source of knowledge about the object of his or her experience? Or does it rationally justify a move from such experience to meaningful beliefs about God or the Absolute which is supposed to be the object of that experience? And are religious beliefs in need of being grounded in religious experience in order to be rationally justified? Although it seems pretty obvious that a great many adherents of all religions find reasons for their beliefs in their religious traditions rather than in their personal religious experiences, one could note that (1) usually these traditions present religious experiences of their founder figures as constituting evidence for their authenticity and truthfulness (consider the importance of Abraham's and Moses' encounters with God for Judaism, the experience of the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost for Christianity, or the experience of Mahomet receiving the Koran for Islam); (2) the supposed mystical experiences of some adherents of a given religious tradition are often treated by their co-believers as an important evidence which increases credibility of their own religious convictions (it seems that primarily for this reason some of the great Christian mystics have been granted the title of 'Doctor of the Church', Chasidic Jews venerate the memory of their saintly leaders making pilgrimages to their graves, and some sufi mystics of medieval Islam are still held in high esteem nearly a thousand years after their death).
Plio-pleistocene Hominids: Epistemological and Taxonomic Problems
Authors: Koszteyn Jolanta
Published: March 2021

Within the historical times, which roughly corresponds with the Holocene epoch, the whole of mankind is believed to be a single species. Homo sapiens. But the human genealogical tree (phylogeny) is populated by a really astounding number of paleontological species and paleontological genera: Ardipithecus ramidus, Australopithecus anamensis, Australopithecus afarensis, Australopithecus africanus, Paranthropus robustus, Paranthropus
boisei, Homo habilis, Homo georgicus. Homo erectus, Homo ergaster, Homo antecessor, Homo heidelbergensis, Homo neanderthalensis, Homo sapiens. (cf. Gyula 2002). In fact there are many more (Sahelanthropus tchadensis,
Orrorin tugenensis, Kenyanthropus platyops, Australopithecus garhi, Australopithecus aethiopicus) but Foley (2002), quite reasonably, states that the evidence for their existence is, at present, insufficient. The existence of these multiple forms is beyond any doubt. The doubt, however arises concerning the human or „prehuman" status of them. Were they really true specific forms, half-way between the apes and Holocene man? Is it possible that they constitute a number of different ecotypes (or paleoraces) within the same natural species of Homo sapiens?
Ewolucja katolickiej nauki społecznej, ale jaka?
Authors: Ślipko Tadeusz
Published: March 2021

The author of the article argues against some of Stanisław Pyszka's views presented in the article Ewolucja katolickiej nauki społecznej [Evolution of the Catholic social teaching], published in: „Forum Philosophicum", 8: 2003. T. Ślipko reproaches S. Pyszka for considering the views on social problems expressed in the encyclical letter „Kerum novarum" „dogmatic", as influenced in part by the Thomistic philosophy. Pyszka opposes them to a pastoral perspective of the encyclical letters written by Pope John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul II. Ślipko states that Catholic social teaching develops, taking into consideration historical circumstances in which human social groups are placed, but the moral principles are unchanged.
Kann ,Form' durch information' ersetzt werden?
Authors: Mutschler Hans-Dieter
Published: March 2021

Der Begriff der Jnformation' wird von manchen Autoren als Nachfolgekonzept des Begriffs der ,Form' angesehen, mit dessen Hilfe man früher Naturerfahrung, natürliche Theologie und Offenbarungstheologie verbinden konnte. Es scheint aber, daß der Begriff der,Er fahrung' heute kein einheitlicher ist, weil er in den Bereichen von Technik, Physik, Biologie, Kognitionswissenschaft und Philosophie sehr verschieden, zum Teil sogar inkonsistent, gebraucht wird. Hier soll gezeigt werden, daß der Begriff der ,Information' weder eine ontologische Grundbestimmung des Seins ausdrückt (Weizsäcker), noch daß er als technisch-praktischer ontologisch völlig irrelevant ist (Janich). Vielmehr verwenden wir diesen Begriff in der Biologie und Kognitionswissenschaft mit Gewinn. Er gehört also in die regionale Ontologie, stellt aber auch so den herrschenden Szientismus und Materialismus in Frage.
Poglądy etyczne Mariana Morawskiego SJ
Authors: Ślipko Tadeusz
Published: March 2021

Father Marian Morawski was born on the fifteenth of August 1845 in Gräfenberg (presently Jesenik). He joined the order of the Jesuits in 1863 in Stara Wieś. He began his philosophical studies there in 1866, which he finished in Cracow in 1868. Next he studied theology there during the years 1868-1872. In 1870 he was ordained in Śrem. So educated, he lectured philosophy to young Jesuits at Stara Wieś College (1873-1879). It was at that time, that he prepared and published the work by the titile: Filozofia i jej zadanie [Philosophy and its task]. When, at the request of the editor Edward Podolski, the Jesuits took over the periodical "Przegląd Lwowski" and from 1884 began to publish it by the new title of "Przegląd Powszechny" (existing to this day), Morawski became its first editor and published many of his own articles in it concerning science and religion. In this way he created a new breed
of theological literature, known as „world-view literature". As a typical example, Wieczory nad Lemanem [Evenings on Leman] (Cracow 1896) as well as the thesis Celowość w przyrodzie. Studium przyrodniczo-filozoficzne
[Finality in the nature. A natural-philosophical study] (Cracow 1887) were published multiple times and in many languages. From 1887 to 1899 Morawski was a professor at the Jagiellonian University, and during the years 1894-1895 he was the Dean of the Theology Department. He died in Cracow on the sixth of May 1901.
Ethos politico nello stato democratico secondo Luigi Sturzo
Authors: Kobylińska Zdzisława
Published: March 2021

Che cosa ci puoa dire oggi una riflessione sulla pohtica quando la politica come, per esempio cento anni fa, e vista come una „cosa sporca"? Se veramente una tale riflessione ha solo un valore teoretico o anche storico? Sembra di no... Uno dei modi per evitare le controversie sulla realtä e per comprendere bene i meccanismi del funzionamento di uno Stato, della societa, di un partite e delVethos politico nella sua complessita e quelle di intendersi sui concetto di politica. II fatto che questo concetto della politica, negli ultimi tempi, e soprattutto nei paesi postcomunisti, sia oggetto di notevoli studi ed approfondimenti, sta ad indicare che ci si trova di fronte ad un tema molto attuale e che i l nuovo clima di distensione e frutto di cambiamenti socio-politici e di una faticosa riflessione e preparazione di numerosi studiosi delle piu varie discipline: dalla sociologia alla storia, dalla filosofia al diritto, dall'etica
all'insegnamento sociale della Chiesa.
On the Occasion of his Seventieth Year
Authors: Darowski Roman
Published: March 2021

Roman Darowski was born on August 12, 1935, in Szczepanowice, near Tarnow. He entered the Jesuit Order on July 31, 1951, and underwent a two year novitiate in Stara Wieś, near Krosno. He was ordained priest on July 31, 1961, in Warsaw. He studied philosophy at the Jesuit College (Faculty of Philosophy) in Cracow (1955-1958). He obtained a Master's Degree (MA) after presenting his thesis, Basic Foundations of Marxist Ethics [Podstawowe założenia etyki marksistowkiej], written under the direction of Tadeusz Ślipko, S. J . He studied theology at the Jesuit College (Faculty of Theology: Bobolanum) in Warsaw (1958-1962). After presenting his thesis Church History of Szczepanowice [Dzieje kościelne Szczepanowic], directed by Włodzimierz Kamńhski, S. J., he obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Theology (at that time equal to an MA). In the following year (1962/1963), he completed the so-called „third probation" in Paray-le-Monial, France, (a one year study of the Constitutions of the order and of Ignatian spirituality).
Józef W. Bremer. Wprowadzenie do logiki
Authors: Janusz Robert
Published: March 2021

Co łączy Arystotelesa z logicznymi bramkami współczesnych komputerów? Tego można się dowiedzieć z podręcznika Bremera - obszernego i filozoficznie ugruntowanego wprowadzenia do logiki. Dzisiaj, po wielu sukcesach wyemancypowanej z filozofii logiki formalnej, jeszcze tylko nieliczni nie uważają jej za dyscypliny naukową. Wielu jednak szuka na różne sposoby filozoficznych interpretacji tej ścisłej dziedziny wiedzy. Dlatego logikę można uprawiać albo banalnie, albo z filozoficzną zadumą, np. na tle historycznych ścieżek jej rozwoju. Nie jest to jednak proste. Opatrzona Przedmową Jana Woleńskiego książka Bremera ma programowo to zadanie spełniać. Goethemu długie sznurowadła butów hiszpańskich kojarzyły się ze sznurowaniem umysłu w logikę. Z pewnością wielkiemu poecie trudno było uchwycić arystotelesowskie podejście do logiki, tak różne od współczesnego, w pełni sformalizowanego, ale jakże prostego jej ujęcia. Bremer obiera dla swych uczniów drogę historii, narażając ich może na podobne stresy, jakie towarzyszyły Goethemu. Po krótkim przeglądzie różnych etapów rozwoju logiki następuje krótkie omówienie relacji łączących logikę tradycyjną z logiką współczesną. Dla filozofa jest to bardzo ciekawe zagadnienie, stad może pewien niedosyt przy czytaniu tego podrozdziału.
Between Pragmatics and Rehgious Experience. Hugo Tristram Engelhardt's Concept of Bioethics
Authors: Hołub Grzegorz
Published: March 2021

Bioethics is a relatively young discipline. Within it, discussion is still taking place concerning the methodological status of the subject. Nevertheless, putting aside this inner aspect of bioethics, one thing appears striking. The short-lived existence of bioethics is surprisingly associated with a great number of bioethical projects, aimed at tackling complex problems, arising in the realm of health care. It seems that the rapid enhancement of biomedical sciences and biotechnologies - carrying with it many moral dilemmas - creates a pressure leading to a new sort of ethical reflection, as well as deepening further existing reflections. Looking more generally and somewhat superficially at existing approaches to bioethical matters, one can distinguish two tendencies. One of them puts forward creating a general ethical system drawing upon a specific notion of morality, and drawing up a set of moral rules and principles. The second one finds its starting point in separate cases, in their analyses, playing down the role of general moral theories. The best example of such an approach is a modern casuistry catching on especially in English speaking countries. The spreading tendency of casuistic analyses does not eliminate the fact that many bioethicists still make an effort to pursue the first of the mentioned trends by building up a general bioethical framework. Hugo Tristram Engelhardt is a good example of such a thinker. He is a medical doctor and philosopher working at Rice University in Houston. In the course of over 30 years of his medical and philosophical research, Engelhardt has outlined two bioethical projects: the project of secular bioethics and the project of Christian bioethics.
Biomolecular perfection and the „common descent"
Authors: Koszteyn Jolanta
Published: March 2021

The concept of „fundamental unity of life" belongs to the descriptive element of biology. It contrasts with the equally empirical concept of multiplicity and diversity of living forms. „Fundamental unity of life" means that however peculiar a biological form might be, some of its essential mechanisms are exactly the same as in the rest of the biological world. It is astonishing to realize that so different beings as bacteria, plants and men manifest several evidently non fortuitous identities. For thousands of years man has been aware, that many behavioral traits are common to all living beings. Every living being processes matter, multiplies, regenerates, adapts to its surroundings'. During the last century a new, impressive confirmation and amplification of these resemblances was found on the molecular and subcellular level. One may say that the previous, rather raw concepts of nutrition, reproduction, adaptation and regeneration have been replaced by the more or less direct evidence, observable within the single living cells. So the idea of „fundamental unity of life" underwent a legitimate „reduction" to the level of biochemistry.