bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Utility of Multi-dimensional Symptom Assessment Scales for Children Treated in a Tertiary Paediatric Oncology Unit: a Prospective Survey-based Study
Authors: Katz Naomi T , Sacks Bronwyn H , Vemuri Sidharth , Williams Molly , Bhatia Kanika , Hynson Jenny
Published: November 2021

Background: Children undergoing cancer-directed treatment experience distressing symptoms. Multi-dimensional patient-reported symptom assessment scales have been validated in children with cancer, but are not routinely used in clinical practice.Aim: To describe the symptom prevalence and burden for children receiving treatment in a paediatric oncology unit, as described by both children where possible, and their parents.Methods: Prospective survey-based study during which the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale was administered to children and parents. Participants were offered the opportunity to complete the survey on multiple occasions. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from electronic medical records. Institutional ethics approval was granted (HREC37022A).Results: Forty-one children were recruited, aged 8 months to 18 years and 54% were female. In total, 54 parent surveys and 29 child surveys were completed. The vast majority of surveys (81%) were completed in the inpatient setting, and more than half within 10 days of chemotherapy. Haematological malignancies predominated. There was a median of 4.8 months between diagnosis and recruitment. Eleven children died after the study closed; no patients died during the study period. Children aged 10 – 18 reported an average of 15 symptoms. Symptom prevalence did not always correlate with distress.Conclusions: Exploration of the impact of a symptom, and not just its presence, is vital for patient-centred care and can be achieved using multi-dimensional symptom scales. Both the child and caregiver’s voices should be obtained where possible. Further studies are needed to explore how these scales can be used to identify distress and guide supportive care delivery.
Transitional Wave Climate Regions on Continental and Polar Coasts in a Warming World
Authors: Odériz Itxaso , Mori Nobuhito , Shimura Tomoya , Webb Adrean , Silva Rodolfo , Mortlock Thomas
Published: November 2021

We provide a comprehensive analysis of the spatial-temporal changes in the atmospheric-driven major wave climates (easterlies, southerlies, and westerlies) under two different Representative Concentration Pathways, the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios for the end-of-the-century (2075–2099). By comparing the projected scenarios with historical conditions, we found that the easterly wave climates will be more frequents in the southwest basins (up to 15%) and the southerlies in the eastern basins (up to 20%). While the westerlies are projected to reduce their presence in the mid-latitudes and intensify for the high latitudes associated with the poleward extratropical circulation. As a result, coastal risk will be triggered in transitional wave climate regions, in addition to the risk induced by sea-level rise and storm wave generated, by spatial and frequency changes in the prevailing wave climates that will reach regions where up to now they have not, impacting future coastal environments.
Downregulated miR-1271-5p inhibits proliferation and invasion of trophoblast cells by activates Grhl2/CHL1 axis in preeclampsia
Authors: Shen Xue-Yan , Cheng Li-Li , Huang Jing , Kong Hong-Fang , Chang Ya-Jing , Wang Fang , Xin Hong
Published: November 2021

Objective: Abnormal cell growth and invasion are known to be involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). Previous studies have shown that miR-1271-5p promotes cell proliferation and migration. However, the expression and function of miR-1271-5p in PE still remains unclear.Materials and Methods: The expression of miR-1271-5p was detected from blood serum from pregnant and placental tissues. Silence or overexpression of miR-1271-5p in HTR8/SVneo cells. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect miR-1271-5p expression. Cell proliferation and invasion were determined using separately MTT assay Wound-scratch healing assay.Results: In this study, we identified a downregulation in miR-1271-5p in blood samples and placentas of PE patients compared to healthy pregnant controls. In addition, overexpression of miR-1271-5p promoted trophoblast cell proliferation and invasion, while depletion of miR-1271-5p reduced these effects. Importantly, we revealed that grainyhead-like protein 2 homolog (Grhl2), which could inhibit proliferation and migration of trophoblast cells, was a direct target gene of miR-1271-5p in primary trophoblast cells and HTR-8/SVneo cells. Furthermore, Our results showed that Grhl2 bound to the cell adhesion molecule L1-like protein (CHL1) promoter and regulated it transcription in trophoblast cells.Conclusion: Grhl2-mediated effects of miR-1271-5p on cell invasion and proliferation of trophoblast cells by promoting CHL1 transcription. The miR-1271-5p/Grhl2/CHL1 axis potentially provides a new therapeutic target for PE.
18β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Protectes Neonatal Rats with Hyperoxia Exposure Through Inhibiting ROS/NF-κB/NLRP3 Inflammasome
Authors: Cai Qing , Liu Ziyun , Yu Xuefei , Zhao Xinyi , Xue Xindong , Fu Jianhua
Published: November 2021

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common devastating pulmonary complication in preterm infants. Oxygen supplementation is a lifesaving therapeutic measure used for premature infants with pulmonary insufficiency. However, oxygen toxicity is a significant trigger for BPD, and oxidative stress-induced inflammatory responses, in turn, worsens the oxidative toxicity resulting in lung injury and arresting of lung development. Glycyrrhiza radix is commonly used in the medicine and food industries. 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA), a primary active ingredient of Glycyrrhiza radix, has a powerful anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to determine whether 18β-GA has protective effects on neonatal rats with hyperoxia exposure. Newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were kept in either 21% (normoxia) or 80% O2 (hyperoxia) continuously from postnatal day (PN) 1 to 14. 18β-GA was injected intragastrically at 50 or 100 mg/kg body weight once a day from PN 1 to 14. We examined the body weights and alveolar development, and measured ROS level and the markers of pulmonary inflammation. Mature-IL-1β and NF-κB pathway proteins, and the NLRP3 inflammasome, were assessed; concurrently, caspase-1 activity was measured. Our results indicated that hyperoxia resulted in alveolar simplification and decreased bodyweight of neonatal rats. Hyperoxia exposure increased ROS level and pulmonary inflammation, and activated NF-κB and the NLRP3 inflammasome. 18β-GA treatment decreased ROS level, inhibited the activation of NF-κB and the NLRP3 inflammasome, decreased pulmonary inflammation, improved alveolar development, and increased the bodyweight of neonatal rats with hyperoxia exposure. Our study demonstrates that 18β-GA protects neonatal rats with hyperoxia exposure through inhibiting ROS/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome.
Individualized Precision Targeting of Dorsal Attention and Default Mode Networks with Rtms in Traumatic Brain Injury-Associated Depression
Authors: Siddiqi Shan H. , Kandala Sridhar , Hacker Carl D. , Trapp Nicholas T. , Leuthardt Eric C. , Carter Alexandre R. , Brody David L.
Published: November 2021

Background
At the group level, antidepressant efficacy of rTMS targets is inversely related to their normative connectivity with subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC). Individualized connectivity may yield better targets, particularly in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders who may have aberrant connectivity. However, sgACC connectivity shows poor test-retest reliability at the individual level. Individualized resting-state network mapping (RSNM) can reliably map inter-individual variability in brain network organization.
Objective
To identify individualized RSNM-based rTMS targets that reliably target the sgACC connectivity profile.
Methods
We used RSNM to identify network-based rTMS targets in 10 healthy controls and 13 individuals with traumatic brain injury-associated depression (TBI-D). These “RSNM targets” were compared with consensus structural targets and targets based on individualized anti-correlation with a group-mean-derived sgACC region (“anti-group-mean sgACC targets”). The TBI-D cohort was randomized to receive active (n=9) or sham (n=4) rTMS to RSNM targets.
Results
The group-mean sgACC connectivity profile was reliably estimated by individualized correlation with default mode network (DMN) and anti-correlation with dorsal attention network (DAN). Individualized RSNM targets were then identified based on DAN anti-correlation and DMN correlation. Counterintuitively, anti-correlation with the group-mean sgACC connectivity profile was stronger and more reliable for RSNM-derived targets than for “anti-group-mean sgACC targets”. Improvement in depression after RSNM-targeted rTMS was predicted by target anti-correlation with the portions of sgACC. Active treatment led to increased connectivity within and between several relevant regions.
Conclusions
RSNM may enable reliable individualized rTMS targeting, although further research is needed to determine whether this personalized approach can improve clinical outcomes.
Active management of the third stage of labour: knowledge and challenges of obstetric caregivers in selected health facilities in Fako Division, Cameroon
Authors: Tih William Ntchompbopughu , Thomas Egbe Obinchemti , Nicholas Tendongfor
Published: November 2021

Background: In Cameroon, the decrease in MMR (Maternal Mortality Ratio) from PPH (Postpartum Haemorrhage) despite reported use of the Active Management of the Third Stage of Labour (AMTSL) is slower than required to achieve the Third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG3) hence the need to question obstetric caregivers’ competence in AMTSL, as well as the factors hindering its proper useWe therefore aimed to assess obstetric caregivers’ knowledge about AMTSL, as well as the determinants and barriers of AMTSL in selected hospitals in Fako Division, Cameroon.Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study of 150 participants recruited in 27 health facilities in Buea, Limbe and Tiko health districts from January 15, 2020, to March 31, 2020. Participants’ socio-demographic and qualification characteristics, knowledge and challenges, and the references guiding their practice of AMTSL were collected using a structured questionnaire. AMTSL knowledge was categorized as poor or good and the determinants of good AMTSL knowledge were evaluated. The data was analyzed in SPSS version 25.0. Results: Of the 150 caregivers interviewed, only 48.7% had good knowledge of AMTSL. In logistic models, participants’ use of AMTSL increased Good knowledge of AMTSL (AOR: 12.96, CI: 1.12 -150.3, p=0.04). Unavailability of drugs and/or equipment, insufficient staff coverage and lack of knowledge and training of the staff were the major challenges reported. Conclusion: Obstetric caregivers in Fako division have knowledge gaps and face numerous challenges in AMTSL use, which could account for the consistently high MMR from PPH. Filling this knowledge gap and mitigating the challenges of these caregivers would certainly accelerate progress towards the achievement of SDG3.
The Effects of Two Different Dietary Regimens During Exercise On Outcome of Experimental Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Sabet Nazanin , Soltani Zahra , Khaksari Mohammad , amirhasani Alireza Raji-
Published: November 2021

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a syndrome characterized by rapid loss of excretory function of kidney. One of the molecules considered in the treatment of renal failure is the silent information regulator (SIRT1). In this study, the effect of two different diets during exercise on AKI was investigated. Materials and Methods: A number of rats were randomly divided into four groups; control without exercise, control with exercise, exercise + calorie restriction (CR), and exercise + time restriction (TR). Each group was divided into two subgroups of without AKI and with AKI (six rats in each group). Endurance exercise and diets were implemented before AKI. Serum urea and creatinine, urinary albumin, kidney malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), transforming growth factor (TGF-β1), and SIRT1 levels, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and relative kidney weight were measured before and 48 h after AKI induction.Results: After induction of kidney injury, serum urea and creatinine, urinary albumin, kidney MDA and TGF-β1 levels and relative kidney weight increased in rats with both previous exercise and no previous exercise (p <0.001), while GFR, and kidney TAC and SIRT1 levels decreased (p <0.001). These changes after AKI were less in the group with previous exercise than in the group that had no exercise (p <0.001). The TR diet during exercise caused a less increase in serum urea (p <0.001) and creatinine (p <0.05), and urinary albumin (p <0.01) levels after injury compared to the just exercise group. Also, both CR and TR diets during exercise caused less change in MDA (p <0.01, p <0.05, respectively) and TAC (p <0.001, p <0.05, respectively) levels compared to just exercise group. Conclusion: The results showed that exercise alone had no effect on preventing function impairment of kidney, oxidative stress, inflammation and also SIRT1 alteration following AKI in athletes, although these indexes were less among those with exercise than those without exercise. However, when the CR and TR diets were implemented during exercise, strong renoprotective effects appeared, and the protective effect of TR diet was greater.
Study on Electronic and Optical Properties of Graphene Oxide Under an External Electric Field From First-principles
Authors: Najim Abdehafid , BAJJOU Omar , BOULGHALLAT Mustapha , Khenfouch Mohammed , Rahmani Khalid
Published: November 2021

Electronic and optical properties of graphene oxide (GO), under an external electric field (Eext) applied in three directions of space (x, y, z), are investigated using the density functional theory (DFT). The application of the Eext, causes a significant modifications to the electronic and optical properties of GO material. It has change the band gap, total density of states (TDOS), partial density of states (PDOS), absorption coefficient (α), dielectric function, optical conductivity, refractive index and loss function. The band gap of GO layer increases under the effects of the Eext, applied in x and y directions. On the other hand, for z direction, the band gap decreases by the effects of the Eext. The peaks of the TDOS around the Fermi level, change by the Eext applied in (x, y, z) directions. The α peaks of the GO sheet, decreases by the Eext applied in x direction, and increases if Eext applied in y and z directions. It is found that, the electronic and optical properties of GO layer, could be affected by the effects of the Eext and by its direction of application.
Molecular Analysis of Genes Involved in Chitin Degradation from the Chitinolytic Bacterium Bacillus Velezensis
Authors: Tran Dinh Minh , Huynh To Uyen , Nguyen Thi Huyen , Do Oanh Tu , Nguyen Quang-Vinh , Nguyen Dzung Anh
Published: November 2021

Bacillus velezensis RB.IBE29 is a potent biocontrol agent with high chitinase activity isolated from the rhizosphere of black pepper cultivated in the Central Highlands, Vietnam. Genome sequences revealed that this species possesses some GH18 chitinases and AA10 protein(s); however, these enzymes have not been experimentally characterized. In this work, three genes were identified from the genomic DNA of this bacterium and cloned in Escherichia coli. Sequence analysis exhibited that the ORF of chiA consists of 1,203 bp and encodes deduced 45.46 kDa-chitinase A of 400 aa. The domain structure of chitinase A is composed of a CBM 50 domain at the N-terminus and a catalytic domain at the C-terminus. The ORF of chiB includes 1,263 bp and encodes deduced 47.59 kDa-chitinase B of 420 aa. Chitinase B consists of two CBM50 domains at the N-terminus and a catalytic domain at the C-terminus. The ORF of lpmo10 is 621 bp and encodes a deduced 22.44 kDa-AA10 protein, BvLPMO10 of 206 aa. BvLPMO10 contains a signal peptide and an AA10 catalytic domain. Chitinases A and B were grouped into subfamily A of family 18 chitinases. Amino acid sequences in their catalytic domains lack aromatic residues (Trp, Phe, Tyr) probably involved in processivity and substrate binding compared with well-known bacterial GH18 chitinases. chiB was successfully expressed in E. coli. Purified rBvChiB degraded insoluble chitin and was responsible for inhibition of fungal spore-germination and egg hatching of plant-parasitic nematode. This is the first report describing the analysis of the chitinase system from B. velezensis.
The Value Basis of Russian Network Communities: the Integrative Function of Communicative Aggression
Authors:   Saint Petersburg State University, Sergey V. Kurushkin
Published: November 2021

The article raises questions of the xenophobia evolution in the Russian online communities. The main task was to analyze the transformation of phobias into communicative aggression in the dynamics of social interaction. Considering communicative aggression as a tool for establishing dominance in social goal-setting, we turned to the study of communities of different types in order to identify the relationship between the level of communicative tension and certain values. As an empirical basis for the study, we chose messages (posts) published in the online communities of feminists and anonymous users (in the context of their relationship to Islam). The research methods were case-study and critical discourse analysis (at the level of research foundation), non-formalized content analysis, text mining and correlation analysis (at the level of data collection and data processing). At the general theoretical level, an attempt was made to combine the positivist and interpretative paradigms. The study of two cases revealed the dynamics of the transition from the cultivation of phobias to the spread of communicative aggression. It shows how the digitalization of communications affects the polarization of cultural, symbolic and sociopolitical differences and promotes the integration of the individual into the network community. Various scenarios were identified according to which the spread of communicative aggression occurs. For example, in radical feminist communities, aggression occurs when the values of freedom, life and health are threatened. In the case of Islam, aggression is caused by tolerance as a value, as well as a threat to the law, family and freedom. Based on the results of the analysis of each case, recommendations are presented to reduce the level of communicative tension, which consist in avoiding specific value triggers, transforming the media image of network communities and building communication strategies with a more even appeal to all values, and not only to terminal ones. Thus, communities with integration occurs solely by spreading aggressive communications will be forced to turn to other strategies to implement full-fledged activities.
A Short Story as a Special Genre of Vietnamese National Literature
Authors:   School for Gifted Children at the University of Hanoi, Vietnam National University
Published: November 2021

There is still a gap between prosperous foundation of national literary heritage, its genre diversity and real practical understanding of its value for society development and national identification. The article is deals with to the study of the short Vietnamese story as a genre of Vietnamese literature, its history, specifics, and the current stage of development. The purpose of the research is to study the short Vietnamese story as a national genre of Vietnamese literature, periodization, identification of its features. In this study, several methods of scientific research were used. Historical and comparative analysis, with the help of which it is possible to identify the features of the genre under study by establishing similarities and differences with other genres, to identify the stages of its development in the historical context; and empirical analysis to summarize, classify and describe the results obtained. The contribution of the study is to present the history of the Vietnamese short story as a genre of Vietnamese literature, reveal its specifics, features due to the cultural and religious basis, the historical heritage of the country and socio-economic development. The periodization of the genre evolution is carried out. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the current stage short story development. The author shows the transformation of the genre, reveals new features inherent in the genre of the modern short Vietnamese story, related to the socio-economic development of Vietnam and the echoes of the military events of the mid-XX century. Namely, the approach to realism and showing the true emotions of the hero. We show that it is the analysis of literary works of this genre that can become an important element, which can help to preserve the depth and beauty of literature, to maintain the continuity of generations. This is especially important in the context of globalization and the erosion of traditional cultural values in Vietnamese society.
Author’s Narrative Strategy with Comic Elements as a Component of the Conceptual Picture of the Prose World of B. Kanapyanov
Authors:   Kazakh National Medical University named after S. Asfendiyarov, Annel T. Baktybaeva
Published: November 2021

The purpose of the article is to identify the originality of the author’s strategy of the Russian-speaking Kazakh poet B. Kanapyanov as an integral element of the conceptual picture of the world. The scientific novelty of the work is determined by a systematic approach to the studied material, as well as by the fact that for the first time the author of the article considers the novels of a prose writer in the stated perspective. “Tales of the Old Combiner” are written in a comic vein, and the genre definition is already given by the title itself. The plots of small chapters demonstrate the ethical “difference” between ideological slogans and everyday reality in which rural workers are immersed. The figure of the narrator here is quite remarkable: this is a young man, on the one hand, who is a product of the Soviet era, and on the other, who has just graduated from an agricultural technical school in the city and has arrived at a state farm, who does not have much life experience, whose consciousness is not yet clouded by ideology, and therefore looking at the world ironically and objectively. The Kazakh author seeks to convey the peculiarities of the laughter outlook of the 1970s–1980s through the use of speech clichés of the Soviet era. He clearly demonstrates Soviet ideologemes, bordering in meaning, with “carnival misalliance”. The results of the study showed that the author’s preface, a kind of communication between the author and the reader through the author’s mask and fairy tale narration, etc., become elements of the author’s strategy of B. Kanapyanov, placed in a comic narrative discourse. The latter unfolds in the description of the ironic impressions of the protagonist, his dreams, the description of the harvesting of bread, the actions of the labor mentor. Prospects for further research can be associated with identifying the features of the author’s strategy of B. Kanapyanov in the story Spray of Champagne, understanding the functional role of comic elements in its construction.
Cornstarch-based, Biodegradable Superabsorbent Polymer to Improve Water Retention, Reduce Nitrate Leaching, and Result in Improved Tomato Growth and Development
Authors: Kathi Shivani , Simpson Catherine , Umphres Alinna , Schuster Greta
Published: November 2021

In arid and semi-arid climates, water scarcity and nutrient availability are major constraints for food production. Excess fertilization to make up for the limited nutrient availability in dry soils leads to nitrogen runoff and groundwater contamination. Reducing nitrogen leaching into surface water while providing adequate nutrition remains a major challenge. Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) can reduce water loss and improve nutrient retention and therefore minimize leaching and increase crop yields. SAPs are made from petroleum or natural products, but plant-based SAPs have been gaining popularity because they have fewer long-term effects on the environment. However, there is little known about how SAPs made from cornstarch effect plant growth and production in tomatoes. So, we evaluated total nitrogen and water retention in SAP-treated soils and evaluated their effects on growth and development of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). Soils were amended with different rates of cornstarch-based SAP (i.e., 0 kg SAP, 0 kg SAP+N, 0.5 kg SAP+N, 1 kg SAP+N, 1.5 kg SAP+N, and 2 kg SAP+N). Results indicate that the mean volume of water and nitrates retained in the soils amended with cornstarch-based SAPs increased with increasing rate of SAP. The treatment containing the highest dose (i.e., 2 kg SAP) decreased the amount of leachate and nitrates from soil 79.34% and 93.11% at 3 days after fertilization (DAF) and 78.84% and 81.58% at 9 DAF in comparison with the soil-only and fertilizer-only treatments, respectively. The results also indicate cornstarch-based SAP significantly improved plant growth and yield parameters compared with the treatments without SAP. Furthermore, the greatest number of leaves, flowers, fruits, and dry matter production were found in the 1-kg SAP treatment. Therefore, application of cornstarch-based SAPs can improve tomato production in times of drought stress by retaining more water and nutrients in the active rooting zone and can reduce environmental pollution by reducing nitrogen runoff.
Manganese determination in coastal water
Authors: I. Stoicescu
Published: November 2021

The present work describes the application of spectrophotometric method for the determination of manganese (Mn) used in water samples collected from the coastal zone of the Black Sea. We studied a colorimetric method for the determination of manganese using UVVIS molecular absorption spectrophotometry. We measure absorbance of the 450 nm charge transfer band of permanganate. In all analysed samples we found that the levels of manganese did not exceed the pollution threshold.
Introduction to Pristionchus pacificus anatomy
Authors: Schroeder Nathan E.
Published: November 2021

Pristionchus pacificus has emerged as an important nematode species used to understand the evolution of development and behavior. While P. pacificus (Diplogasteridae) is only distantly related to Caenorhabditis elegans (Rhabditidae), both use an identical reproductive strategy, are easily reared on bacteria in Petri dishes and complete their life cycles within a few days. Over the past 25 years, several detailed light and electron microscopy studies have elucidated the anatomy of P. pacificus and have demonstrated clear homology to many cells in C. elegans. Despite this similarity, sufficient anatomical differences between C. elegans and P. pacificus have allowed the latter to be used in comparative evo-devo studies. For example, the stoma of P. pacificus contains a large dorsal tooth used during predation on other nematodes when supplementing its primarily bacterial diet. This review discusses the main anatomical features of P. pacificus with emphasis on comparison to C. elegans.
Zinconigerite-2N1S ZnSn2Al12O22(OH)2 and zinconigerite-6N6S Zn3Sn2Al16O30(OH)2, two new minerals of the nolanite-spinel polysomatic series from the Xianghualing skarn, Hunan Province, China
Authors: Rao Can , Gu Xiangping , Wang Rucheng , Xia Qunke , Dong Chuanwan , Hatert Frédéric , Bo Fabrice Dal , Yu Xuege , Wang Wumengyu
Published: November 2021

Zinconigerite-2N1S ZnSn2Al12O22(OH)2 and zinconigerite-6N6S Zn3Sn2Al16O30(OH)2 are two new minerals with different numbers and ratios of nolanite (N) and spinel (S) modules. Both phases have been discovered in the Xianghualing skarn, Hunan Province, China. Zinconigerite-2N1S (zn-2N1S) and zinconigerite-6N6S (zn-6N6S) are named for their chemical composition, number, and ratios of N-S modules, according to the nomenclature of the nolanite-spinel polysomatic series of Armbruster (2002). Both phases occur as aggregates, sub-to-euhedral crystals, with maximal dimensions up to 100 μm, within fluorite aggregates, and they are closely associated with phlogopite, chrysoberyl, magnetite, cassiterite, margarite, and nigerite-taaffeite group minerals. They do not show fluorescence in long- or short-wave ultraviolet light. The calculated densities are 4.456 g/cm3 for zn-2N1S and 4.438 g/cm3 for zn-6N6S. Optically, zn-2N1S is uniaxial (+) with ω = 1.83(1), ε = 1.84(2); zn-6N6S is uniaxial (+) with ω = 1.85(1), ε = 1.87(2) (λ = 589 nm). Their chemical compositions by electron-microprobe analyses give the empirical formulas (Zn0.734Mn0.204Na0.122Ca0.063Mg0.044)Σ1.166(Sn1.941Zn0.053Ti0.007)Σ2 (Al11.018Fe0.6903+Zn0.200Si0.092)12O22(OH)2 for zn-2N1S and (Zn1.689Mn0.576Mg0.328Fe0.4073+)Σ3(Sn1.882Zn0.047 Ti0.071)Σ2(Al14.675Fe1.0883+Na0.13Ca0.086Si0.017)Σ15.996O30(OH)2 for zn-6N6S. Both phases have trigonal symmetry; the unit-cell parameters of zn-2N1S (P3m1) and zn-6N6S (R3m), refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, are, a = 5.7191(2) and 5.7241(2) Å, c = 13.8380(6) and 55.5393(16) Å, V = 391.98(3) and 1575.96(12) Å3, and Z = 1 and 3, respectively. The structure of zn-2N1S is characterized by the alternating O-T1-O-T2-O-T1 layers stacked along the c-axis, showing the connectivity of N-S-N. The polyhedral stacking sequence of zn-6N6S is 3 × (O-T1-O-T2-O-T2-O-T1), reflecting a N-S-S-N-N-S-S-N-N-S-S-N connectivity of the polysomatic structure. By contrast, the structure of zn-2N1S shows the elemental replacements of Al → Sn and Al → Zn, suggesting the substitution mechanism of 2Al → Zn + Sn. The complex substitution of Zn by multiple elements (Al, Fe3+, Mn, Mg) in the structure of zn-6N6S, is coupled with the low occupancy of Al5-octahedra. Fe3+ → Al substitution occurs in Al1-tetrahedra of both zn-2N1S and zn-6N6S. The new polysomes, zn-2N1S and zn-6N6S, likely crystallized under F-rich conditions during the late stages of the Xianghualing skarn formation. The discovery of zn-2N1S and zn-6N6S provides new insights into the crystal chemistry of the N-S poly-somatic series and its origin.
Tracing structural relicts of the ikaite-to-calcite transformation in cryogenic cave glendonite
Authors: Németh Péter , Töchterle Paul , Dublyansky Yuri , Stalder Roland , Molnár Zsombor , Klébert Szilvia , Spötl Christoph
Published: November 2021

Ikaite is a calcium carbonate hexahydrate that forms at temperatures close to the freezing point of water; thus, its occurrence is associated with cryogenic conditions. This mineral is metastable and quickly transforms to calcite at temperatures above 5 °C. Pseudomorphs of calcite after ikaite are known as glendonite. The nanostructure of 25 000–43 000 year old glendonite from Victoria cave (Southern Ural, Russia) was investigated in search of structural features indicative of the ikaite-to-calcite transformation. Scanning electron microscope images display several micrometer- to submicrometer-size pores and indicate high intergranular porosity among the loosely aggregated grains. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) data show evidence of 10–20 nm nanotwins [twin law (1014)] and 10–40 nm overlapping nanograins. Scanning TEM images reveal that the individual grains contain 5–10 nm long and 2–4 nm wide mesopores (sizes between 2 and 50 nm), which are aligned parallel to [1010] of calcite and might be associated with a crystallographically oriented dehydration of the precursor ikaite. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reveals no evidence of structural water but absorption bands related to molecular water trapped in fluid inclusions are present. Nitrogen absorption/desorption measurements show that the specific surface area of 5.78 m2/g and the pore volume of ~0.07 cm3/g for calcite, the constituent of glendonite, are comparable to those of a common natural calcite. We suggest that the aligned mesopores, frequently occurring twins, small grain size, presence of aqueous inclusions and the high micrometer- to submicrometer-size intergranular porosity arise from the ikaite-to-calcite transformation and thus may be used as criteria for the former presence of ikaite and hence for cold paleotemperatures. However, since similar features might also be common in biogenic carbonates, the diagnostic macroscopic pseudomorphs after ikaite are equally important for identifying glendonites and inferring cryogenic conditions.
AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INFLUENCE OF PARTICIPATORY MONITORING AND EVALUATION ON PERFORMANCE OF SMALLHOLDER TEA FARMING PROJECT IN NYAMIRA COUNTY, KENYA
Authors:   PhD Candidate, Department of Management Sciences and Project Planning, University of Nairobi., Mesa S.M. , Rambo C.M. ,   Professor, Department of Management Sciences and Project Planning, University of Nairobi., Mulwa A.S. ,   Lecturer, Department of Management Sciences and Project Planning, University of Nairobi.
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this study is to establish the inffuence of Participatory M&E on performance of smallholder tea farming projects. In this study participatory M&E refers to involving stakeholders in the entire project lifecycle. It also involves, stakeholder tea farming groups integration, group public participation, involvement in M&E activities, enhancing participatory community approaches and promoting social media cohesion which is a powerful tool on enhancing performance of smallholder tea farming projects.Participatory Rural Appraisal: visual methods, often to analyze before and after situations, through the use of community mapping, problem ranking, wealth ranking, seasonal anddailytimecharts,andother tools.BeneficiaryAssessment:conversational interviewing and focused group discussions on changes and impacts.The ANOVA results indicated that (F-statistics (1,369) =6.633 is significant at P value 0.010< 0.05 implying that the predictor co-efficient is at least not equal to zero and hence the regression model results in significantly better prediction of Performance of Smallholders Tea farming projects.
THE CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA RESEARCH IN ONLINE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
Authors:   Assistant Professor, Department of Instructional Technology, College of Education, King Saud University., Alghamdi F.
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the critical challenges in social media research in the educational field and some current initiatives in addressing them. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen researchers using social media as the data source in their educational research. The study revealed four concerns that must be addressed before embarking on research involving social networking sites, including the volume of data, accessing data, the extent of data reliability and validity and some ethical concerns regarding collecting data from social media platforms. This study suggested that the new digital icons people use in social media communication to convey their emotions are essential and must be considered when analyzing data. Also, it is recommended to theorize the analysis of these social media-related icons (or language). They contain a wealth of information related to the meaning of online learning conversations.
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF TRIGONELLINE AND CUCURBITACIN-E WITH VALIDATED ISOCRATIC RP-HPLC METHODS FOR STANDARDIZING THE HERBAL FORMULATION: REPCHOL PREMIX
Authors:   R&D Centre, Ayurvet Limited, Village Katha, P.O. Baddi - 173205, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India., Sharma Anirudh , Thakur Deepak ,   R&D Centre, Ayurvet Limited, Village Katha, P.O. Baddi - 173205, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India., Lata Pushap ,   R&D Centre, Ayurvet Limited, Village Katha, P.O. Baddi - 173205, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Published: November 2021

Herbal formulations are complex mixtures of medicinal plants and great efforts are necessary to guarantee a constant and optimum quality. Since pharmacological response to the herbal formulations depends on the secondary metabolites present in the herbs, it is important to evaluate the phytoconstituents present in the formulation. Standardization has become a important part for the regulation of the herbal industry with optimum quality measures. The development of validated reverse phase - high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) methods for the quantification of secondary metabolites trigonelline and cucurbitacin-E in herbal formulation RepcholÃƒÂƒÃ‚ÂƒÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â‚ÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â‚ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â® Premix are reported. The developed methods were validated following ICH guidelines for precision, linearity, accuracy, specificity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, and robustness. The outcome of the present investigation underlines the importance of the standardization of Ayurvedic formulations. This will ensure the batch to batch consistency in quality and efficacy. The amounts of trigonelline and cucurbitacin-E in RepcholÃƒÂƒÃ‚ÂƒÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â‚ÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â‚ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â® Premix a commercial herbal formulation, were successfully quantified by the developed RP-HPLC methods. The average content of these markers in different batches of the formulation was 0.079 % and 0.104 % (w/w) respectively. Our results offer new, sensitive and reliable tools for the standardization of herbal formulations containing Trigonella foenum-graecum and Citrullus colocynthis.
Features of recording of meteorological conditions in the data warehouse of qualification examination of plant varieties
Authors: Melnyk S. I. , Leschuk N. V. , Orlenko N. S. , Starychenko E. M. , Mazhuha K. M. , Shkapenko Y. A.
Published: November 2021

Purpose. To develop a multidimensional model of the data storage for the qualification examination of plant varieties for fixing meteorological conditions in conjunction with the phenological stages of development of varieties that undergo DUS and SVD expertise.
Methods. To conduct research with the establishment of the main structural ele­ments of a multidimensional data warehouse, methods of induction, deduction, analysis and synthesis were used. In the design process of the storage facility, W. H. Inmon’s concept was applied, adapted for the agricultural and agricultural business.
Results. The stages of qualification examination of plant varieties were analyzed and methodolo­gical approaches to the creation of a multidimensional data warehouse model were considered. The features of the use of data storages for storing the results of qualification exa­mination of plant varieties for distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) and suitability of a variety for dissemination in Ukraine (SVD) were highlighted. Particular attention was paid to the implementation of the interconnection between the results of the qualification examination of plant varie­ties with the data of meteorological observations at various phenological stages of plant growth and development, according to the records in the electronic field journal. The logical data model of the data warehouse was designed and implemented in the MS SQL Server environment.
Conclusions. Sources of data entry into data warehouses were determined and a multidimensional data warehouse model was implemented according to the “snowflake” scheme. The diagram of the data warehouse was presented, which provided a link between the meteorological conditions of the field experiments and the initial data of the qualification examination, and had four tables of measurements. For each dimension table and fact table, an attribute composition of the data was defined. The data warehouse was practically used to analyze the influence of weather conditions on the indicators of DUS and SVD examinations.
Comparing Neural Network Models for Photovoltaic Power Generation Prediction
Authors: Andrade Carlos Henrique Torres , Vieira Tiago Figueiredo , Araújo Ícaro Bezzera Queiroz , Melo Gustavo Costa Gomes , Barboza Erick de Andrade , Brito Davi Bibiano , Torres Igor Cavalcante
Published: November 2021

Research on alternative energy sources has been increasing for the past years due to environmental concerns and the depletion of fossil fuels. Since photovoltaic generation is intermittent, one needs to predict solar incidence to alleviate problems due to demand surges in conventional distribution systems.Many works have used Long Short-Term Memory (LSTMs) to predict generation. However, to minimize computational costs related to retraining and inference, LSTMs might not be optimal. Therefore, in this work, we compare the performance of MLP (Multilayer Perceptron), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs), and LSTMs for the task mentioned above. We used the solar radiance measured throughout 2020 in the city of Maceió (Brazil), taking into account periods of 2 hours for training to predict the next 5-minutes. Hyperparameters were fine-tuned using an optimization approach based on Bayesian inference to promote a fair comparison. Results showed that the MLP has satisfactory performance, requiring much less time to train and forecast. Such results can contribute, for example, to improving response time in embedded systems.
Metaheuristic based MLP-SARIMAX HybridizationOne Hour Ahead Solar Radiation Forecasting
Authors: Mendes Hugo Abreu , Oliveira João Fausto Lorenzato , Mattos Neto Paulo Salgado Gomes , Pereira Alex Coutinho , Jatoba Eduardo Boudoux , Melo Filho José Bione , Barreto Elisabete Joana Paes , Marinho Manoel Henrique da Nóbrega
Published: November 2021

Within the context of clean energy generation, solar radiation forecast is applied for photovoltaic plants to increase maintainability and reliability. Statistical models of time series like ARIMA and machine learning techniques help to improve the results. Hybrid Statistical + ML are found in all sorts of time series forecasting applications. This work presents a new way to automate the SARIMAX modeling, nesting PSO and ACO optimization algorithms, differently from R's AutoARIMA, its searches optimal seasonality parameter and combination of the exogenous variables available. This work presents 2 distinct hybrid models that have MLPs as their main elements, optimizing the architecture with Genetic Algorithm. A methodology was used to obtain the results, which were compared to LSTM, CLSTM, MMFF and NARNN-ARMAX topologies found in recent works. The obtained results for the presented models is promising for use in automatic radiation forecasting systems since it outperformed the compared models on at least two metrics.
Inspection of Electric Power Distribution Systems with SCRDet
Authors: Restani Guilherme de Moraes , Coelho Leandro dos Santos , Bianchi Filho José Francisco
Published: November 2021

Faults in power distribution systems are among the factors that most affect the quality and continuity of the electric power supply, leading to higher operational costs and user dissatisfaction. Given this problem, this research applies deep learning techniques to develop an application capable of detecting utility poles in images, their angles, and the presence of fuse cutouts and their status (open or closed). The result is a system that can be used, among other applications, to detect or prevent faults in power distribution systems and as an asset inventory tool. We hypothesized that it is possible to use methods that perform well in the Dataset for Object Detection in Aerial images (DOTA) to accomplish this result, so, through the review of state of the art in object detection, we choose the SCRDet network to implement. Since there was no publicly available dataset with images of poles and fuse cutouts, we built it from scratch. Through the training and test, it was possible to evaluate the results and make adjustments, reaching a satisfactory result that has proven the viability of such application.
Accommodative monetary policy, fiscal stimulus and foreign exchange reserves within the framework of Russian national economic interests: Long-standing problems and new challenges
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Nesterov Igor
Published: November 2021

Ultra-accommodative monetary policy, fiscal stimulus, and, as a result, growing debt were the main features of advanced economies development in the 2010s. The pandemic crises of 2020 intensified those trends. Russian authorities had to respond to the new challenges inspired by the global economic slowdown and massive lockdowns thru adopting relaxing monetary conditions and employing fiscal impetus. However, “the new financial reality” of zero-negative interest rates and fast-growing public debt in major advanced economies highlighted the long-standing problems of international financial architecture as well as created new challenges for the Russian national economy. In the article, the author analyzes monetary, fiscal and debt risks challenging the world economy during the last decade and concludes that under current circumstances continuing accumulation of foreign exchange reserves is resulting in growing dependence of Russia economy on the monetary policy of the world’s leading central banks, creating devaluation pressures on the ruble and, consequently, increasing outside inflationary impact on the domestic economy. Ultimately financing the already inflated budget deficits of the United States, the Eurozone and Japan and thereby feeding the wave of “debt tsunami” that is looming from these economies, the Russian Federation is losing investment resources that are so vital for sustainable economic growth recovery. The main goal of the article is to prove that within the framework of the new global financial reality, the further accumulation of foreign exchange reserves preserves ruble undervaluation and ultimately undermines the sustainable development and economic growth of the Russian economy. The author suggests the key elements for national economic policy aimed to support the domestic economy may and should be ruble appreciation. The adjusted paradigm of Russian economic development based on the import substitution model is a strong argument in favor of this proposal.
The impact of digitalization on the demand for labor in the context of working specialties: Spatial analysis
Authors:   Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Dubrovskaya Julia , Kosonogova Elena ,   Perm National Research Polytechnic University
Published: November 2021

The spread of digital technologies, as well as the expansion of remote work practices, have a direct impact on the transformation of the labor market. At the same time, there is no wellestablished scholarly consensus about the nature and consequences of this influence. The key premise of the article is that there are relatively few empirical studies on the labor market that account for the influence of the location of regions relative to each other. This article tests a hypothesis about the significance of location and neighborhood of territories on labor demand in the context of economic digitalization, based on the calculation of coefficients of demand localization for specialists of different profiles and methods of spatial econometrics. The assessment is based on the evaluation of the registered unemployment rate heterogeneity for municipalities in the Perm region of the Russian Federation, using the global and local Moran’s indexes. The studies revealed a positive spatial autocorrelation among neighboring municipalities that proved the high spatial heterogeneity of the registered unemployment rate. Centers of localization and development of labor resources (“growth poles”) and territories affected by spillover effects were also identified. This demonstrates that spatial inter-territorial relations have a significant impact on the demand for labor, which makes it necessary to account for spatial effects when modeling dynamics of employment indicators. The method of labor market analysis based on the assessment of spatial heterogeneity of the unemployment rate and the calculation of localization coefficients is universal and can be applied to various taxonomic units.