bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Autogenous sealing of a cavity in bentonite clay: an x-ray computerised tomography study
Authors: Gao Y. , El-Zein A. , Airey D. , Proust G.
Published: September 2021

Autogenous closure of cracks in clay during wet−dry cycles is usually observed through digital photography or x-ray, or inferred from changes in hydraulic conductivity. Samples in almost all experimental studies of clay self-sealing carry networks of cracks, making it challenging to control initial conditions of healing or to separate processes operating over a single crack from those pertaining to interaction between cracks. Furthermore, most observational studies are based on before-and-after images with little sense of the pace of crack closure. This paper reports a set of x-ray computerised tomography observations of a single artificial cylindrical hole, as a proxy for a crack, in consolidated, close-to-saturation bentonite samples, undergoing further hydration. The sample is scanned at different times and the scans analysed by image processing. The results show that water chemistry, pre-consolidation pressure and vertical boundary conditions all significantly affect the pace and extent of hole closure. The pace of hole closure is found to follow a logarithmic function when the sample is unconstrained vertically. Autogenous closure appears to be due mostly to osmotic swelling. This suggests that the latter may form the basis for developing constitutive relationships and evolution functions for sealing of cracks in swelling clay undergoing wet−dry cycles.
Hydrothermal treatment of the silver-incorporated MAO coated Ti6Al7Nb alloy
Authors: Aydogan Dilek Teker , Muhaffel Faiz , Cimenoglu Huseyin
Published: September 2021

In this study, Ti6Al7Nb titanium alloy has been subjected to micro-arc oxidation (MAO) process and hydrothermal (HT) treatment sequentially. MAO process was conducted in calcium acetate hydrate (Ca(CH3COO)2.H2O) and disodium hydrogen phosphate anhydrous (Na2HPO4) containing reference electrolyte with and without the addition of silver acetate (AgC2H3O2) to provide antibacterial efficiency along with good bioactivity. Subsequently, HT treatment was employed to MAO’ed samples in an alkaline solution (pH = 11) at 230°C. HT treatment induced the covering of the titanium oxide (TiO2)-based MAO coatings with 1–2 µm thick exterior layer composed of nano-rods of titanium oxide and hexagonal columns of hydroxyapatite (HA). The presence of silver (Ag) in the MAO coating refined the structure of the HT treatment-induced exterior layer. As the primary indication of enhancement of the bioactivity, HT treatment accelerated apatite formation in the SBF solution irrespective of the silver presence, which delayed the apatite formation on the untreated MAO coatings. Moreover, HT treatment reduced the release of silver from the coatings into the SBF solution.
Reservoir management under different operating water levels, operation policies and climate change conditions
Authors: Hassanjabbar Amin , Saghafian Bahram , Sane Iman , Jamali Saeed
Published: September 2021

Water resources/reservoir management in developing countries attracts considerable attention due to growing human requirements and environmental concerns. The Seimare–Karkheh hydropower reservoir cascade, in the Karkheh River basin southwest of Iran, was studied. The impacts of changing reservoir operating water levels on hydropower generation and downstream environmental requirements were evaluated under different climate change conditions. For several years, the operating water level of Seimare reservoir was 704.5–720.0 metres above sea level (masl) (H1). Decision makers then adopted a different policy, with the operating range changed to 704.5–723.0 masl (H2). More recently, decision makers reduced the normal and minimum water levels so the reservoir now operates at 695.0–704.5 masl (H3). It was found that, for the period 2006–2050, based on H3, hydropower production would be reduced by 2.3–12.1% and 2.4–12.6% compared with policies H1 and H2, respectively. In 2051–2100, these reductions were found to be 5.8–11.2% and 7.7–11.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the current policy would substantially affect downstream hydrological alteration: 60–72% in Seimare River and 48–66% in Karkheh River for the period 2006–2050. The issue was found to be more pronounced in 2051–2100, with hydrological alteration of 68–73% in Seimare River and 59–66% in Karkheh River.
The Statistical Analysis of Air Crash Investigations from 1918 to 2019
Authors: GÖKER Ümit Deniz , YAZICI Mesut , BALCI Gökhan , KÖKSAL Özge , ŞENGELEN Hakan Eren
Published: September 2021

Air transportation is one of the most preferred types of transportation for many reasons. However, to minimize the risk of accidents with developing technology, investigations and studies are carried out by many organizations. While the main causes of accidents in the first years of aviation were due to mechanical reasons, accidents caused by mechanical reasons have been replaced by an increase in the number of aircraft accidents caused by human-induced errors which depend on the increasing manpower with the developing technology. Nowadays, “Aviation” has become a high level of technical, administrative, and even technological operations. This was made possible by the introduction and production of larger and faster aircraft, which largely includes advanced information management technologies. From an industrial point of view, the fact that aircraft can carry people, cargo, mail, and similar at a more affordable price and in a shorter time has made aviation an important sectoral value. Competition has increased with the increase of aviation companies; therefore, businesses that tend to give overload to employees for the sake of gaining more can cause aircraft accidents. Increased traffic volume and demand for air transportation mean risks and increases in air crashes. In this study, human-induced errors and mechanical system errors, which cause air crashes are mentioned and the statistical analysis of air crashes between the years 1918-2019 is examined.
Representation of the Handicraft Vocabulary of the Sura Volga Region in a Thematic Dictionary: Prerequisites for Creation, Composition and Structure
Authors:   Institute for Linguistic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation), Korolkova Mariia D.
Published: September 2021

In the article, the author discusses the ways of grouping and representing the handi-craft vocabulary items of the Sura Volga region dialects in a thematic dictionary orga-nized by the onomasiological principle. First of all, the author localizes the dialects in question and gives a brief description of their emergence paralleled with the history of the territory where they are present nowadays, that is of modern Penza and Ulya-novsk Oblasts, which were colonized by Russian-speaking settlers only a couple of centuries ago. The author concludes that these secondary idioms belong mostly to the Middle Russian group of dialects and share a lot of common features, which allows regarding them as a certain continuum liable to description as a whole. The author justi-fies the necessity of a dictionary containing the dialectal handicraft vocabulary of the Sura Volga region and claims that an accurate depiction of a certain thematic group of dialectal lexical items, such as handicraft terms, demands specific principles of organi-sation. These principles widely contradict the traditional alphabetic arrangement: for example, a coherent description of a bunch of words denoting related items (e.g. craftsman, his working place and result of work), or drawing of areal maps typically used in linguistic geography. Having analyzed the terms related to felting, carpentry and weaving, the author develops a special method of representing the relevant material both via lin-guistic data, such as phonetic variants, syntactic distribution and morphological peculiari-ties of each item, and encyclopaedic information on how each handicraft action or instru-ment contributes to the result and what this final result is for each type of the handicrafts under consideration. Thus, the author has chosen to divide the words related to each handicraft into seven subgroups such as ‘actor’, ‘instrument’, ‘result’, and so on, which shows the whole picture of what handicraft activities are like and why they need the terms they actually have. If one wants to look for a certain word, not a notion, an alphabetic index at the end of the book can be addressed, where each word is provided with the information on how it can be found in the main text of the dictionary. Finally, the author describes the principles of illustrative material selection. In general, the author hopes her project can prove useful for the description of Russian dialectal handicraft vocabulary
New Strategic Approaches to Gaining from Emerging Advanced Manufacturing Markets
Authors:   National Research University Higher School of Economics, Simachev Yuri , Fedyunina Anna ,   National Research University Higher School of Economics, Yurevich Maksim ,   National Research University Higher School of Economics, Kuzyk Mikhail ,   National Research University Higher School of Economics, Gorodnyi Nikolay ,   National Research University Higher School of Economics
Published: September 2021

Advanced Manufacturing (AM) markets are a major factor of contemporary worldwide growth that to a large extent determines countries’ competitiveness. Strengthening and/or optimizing the positions on AM markets is among the major challenges for modern industrial policy. This article discusses the structure and dynamics of the development of advanced manufacturing markets, as well as the specifics of the policies of the countries strengthening their positions in these markets. Gaining entry into AM markets currently implies individual countries’ and industries’ adopting different models which combine a wide range of factors. Small nations are rapidly applying such approaches, gaining advantages and thus increasing their competitive edge, which creates certain challenges for leading high-tech countries too slow to adjust their industrial policies. So far the basis for Industry 4.0 markets is just emerging, and remains limited to a few nations including developing ones. Country cases are presented below to illustrate the development of AM markets. The authors conclude that in the current context, no universal approaches to shaping a successful industrial policy remain. The most productive strategy is to combine the unique advantages of a particular economy.
Well-of-the-well (WOW) versus polyester mesh (PM): a comparison of single-embryo culture systems in bovines
Authors: Contreras-Benicio Daniel , Castro-Valenzuela Beatriz Elena , Grado-Ahuir Juan Alberto , Burrola-Barraza M.Eduviges
Published: September 2021

Background: Mexico is innovating in the livestock industry through in vitro generation of bovine embryos with technologies such as well-of-the-well (WOW) and polyester mesh (PM) single-embryo culture systems. These techniques allow to maintain embryos in separate areas of a shared culture medium. Objective: To compare the quantity and quality of bovine embryos produced in WOW and PM culture systems versus the conventional (CG) culture system. Methods: In total, 345 embryos fertilized in vitro were evaluated for blastocyst yield in the three culture systems. To count blastocyst cell numbers, 69 embryos in each system were differentially stained for trophectoderm (TE), inner cell mass (ICM), and apoptotic cells. A qPCR gene expression analysis was performed for embryos in all three systems. Results: The WOW, PM and CG systems developed similar amount of blastocysts (41, 35 and 36%, respectively; p>0.05). Blastocysts in all three systems showed adequate amounts of ICM and apoptotic cells. Blastocysts in the PM system showed a greater number of TE cells [63.7 versus 58.6% in the CG system (p<0.05)]. Relative mRNA expression of the embryonic genes POUF5F1, GNAS and TP53 did not differ significantly among systems (p>0.05). The ATP5B expression was higher in WOW than in PM (p<0.05), but similar to CG (p>0.05). The TJP3 expression was higher in PM than in WOW and CG (p<0.05). Expression of ID2 and CLDN4 was higher in WOW than in PM and CG (p<0.05). The biplot graphic from Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that CG was located near degenerated embryos, whereas PM was located near arrested embryos, larger ICM and TE, and TJP3 expression. The WOW was located toward blastocysts, morulae, and expression of CLDN4, ID2 and GNAS. Conclusion: Compared with CG, both the PM and WOW systems are good options for culturing single embryos in the bovine model. Moreover, the PCA results suggest that embryos developed in the WOW system have greater capacity for generating blastocysts with increased ability to form TE and ICM layers, which might improve implantation.
Evaluation of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) against Shigella sonnei ATCC 25931
Authors: Cortés Gaona María del Pilar , Amorocho-Cruz Claudia
Published: September 2021

The main functions of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) are the production of organic acids and their characteristic as inhibitors of pathogenic microorganisms. Disease caused by Shigella sonnei is a public health risk factor, as is the resistance they develop to antibiotics. Accordingly, in this study 4 LAB isolated from coffee, quesillo, and breast milk were evaluated under in vitro conditions on Shigella sonnei, considering the presence and cell-free filtration of LAB. The LAB strains were also studied via an antibiotic test using Penicillin, Ceftriaxone, and Ciprofloxacin. The results showed antagonistic activity against Shigella sonnei due to the presence of cells and organic acids. However, the LAB bacteriocins did not inhibit the pathogen. Furthermore, LABs were sensitive to the antibiotics tested. Products from the region such as coffee and quesillo, as well as breast milk are important for their nutritional value and for their LAB content. It would be useful to involve biotechnological research in the coffee and dairy chain on the one hand, and to promote breastfeeding on the other. The tests carried out are qualitative and the inhibitory effect is attributed to the strain and not to a generalization of species. It would also be useful to perform molecular identification of the lactic acid strains studied to introduce them in other food matrices, to evaluate their viability, and to carry out in vivo tests to assess their antimicrobial activity.
Türkiye’nin ilk orman planlama ünitesindeki teknik ve yapısal değişimlerin 100 yıllık değerlendirilmesi
Authors: ŞAHİN Abbas , ÇAĞLAYAN İnci , BÜYÜK Hasan , KARADEMİR Halil , AKSU Asalettin , ŞAHİN Halim
Published: September 2021

Çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye’nin ilk orman amenajman planının düzenlendiği Hendek Mustafa Şeref Bey Ormanı için 1917-2015 döneminde yapılan sekiz orman amenajman planının teknik ve yapısal değişimlerinin karşılaştırmalı olarak ortaya konulmasıdır. Bu değişimler; planların dayandığı yasal düzenlemeler, haritaların oluşturulması ve envanter yöntemleri ile planlama ilkeleri ve faydalanmanın düzenlenmesi bakımlarından değerlendirilmiştir. Planlar, ilk amenajman planı, istikşafı planlar, kat’i planlar, yaş sınıfları metoduna göre klasik ve ekosistem tabanlı planlar olmak üzere beş kategoriye ayrılmıştır. Planlamaların farklı dört kanun ve altı alt mevzuata göre yapıldığı belirlenmiştir. Plan ünitesinde sınırlar ve alan yedi kez önemli değişikliğe uğramıştır. İç taksimatı oluşturmada üç temel haritalama tekniği kullanılmıştır. Örnekleme yöntemi olarak bölmecik alan değerlendirmesi, tecrübe şeritleri, sistematik ve rastgele örnekleme kullanılmıştır. Amenajman metodu olarak yaş ve çap sınıfları uygulanmış, zamanla işletme sınıfı sayısı ve amaçlarında artış görülmüştür. Bilgi sistemleri ve teknolojik gelişmeler orman haritacılığının gelişmesine önemli katkılar sağlarken, orman envanteri ve planlanması konularında ise yeterli etkiyi gösterememiştir.
Preheating in radiatively corrected φ4 inflation with non-minimal coupling in Palatini formulation
Authors: BOSTAN Nilay
Published: September 2021

We discuss the impact of the preheating stage due to the interaction of the inflaton to fermions in Palatini formulation. In Palatini inflation with large non-minimal coupling, the field is allowed to return to the plateau region during the reheating stage, therefore the average equation of state per oscillations is closer to -1 rather than 1\/3. The incursion in the plateau, however, leads to a highly efficient tachyonic instability, which is able to reheat the Universe in less than one e-fold. By taking prescription II into account, which is discussed in the literature, we calculate the spectral index n_s and the tensor-to-scalar ratio r in the wide range of κ- ξ. We will show the results which are compatible with the data given by the Keck Array/BICEP2 and Planck collaborations.
Some old 2-(4-(Aryl)- thiazole-2-yl)-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-4,7-tethanoisoindole-1,3(2H)-dione derivatives: Synthesis, inhibition effects and molecular docking studies on Aldose reductase and α-Glycosidase
Authors: TASLIMI Parham , DEMİR Yeliz , DURAN Hatice Esra , KOÇYİĞİT Ümit Muhammet , TÜZÜN Burak , ASLAN Osman Nuri , CEYLAN Mustafa , GÜLÇİN İlhami
Published: September 2021

Utilizing the simple chromatic techniques, Aldose reductase (AR) was derived from sheep liver. In addition, α-glycosidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as the enzyme. It was determined the interactions between compounds and the enzymes. Molecular docking method used to compare biological activity values of molecules against enzymes.In the current study, the inhibition effect of synthetic isoindol-substitute thiazole derivatives (3a-f) on AR, and α-glycosidase enzymes was studied. In the thiazole series, compound 3b (Ki: 9.70±4.72 M) showed a maximum inhibitory impact towards AR while compound 3f (Ki: 44.40±17.18 M) showed a lowest inhibitory impact towards AR. It was investigated potent inhibition profiles with Ki values in the range of 24.54±6.92–44.25±10.34 M against α-glycosidase. Theoretical results were found consistent with experimental results.Acting as antidiabetic agents, these compounds have the potential to be the selective inhibitor of α-glycosidase and AR enzymes. The biological activities of the studied molecules against AR and α-glycosidase enzymes will be compared with molecular docking method. ADME analysis of the molecules will be done.
How to use adjusted degree of distinguishability and inter-rater reliability simultaneously?
Authors: YILMAZ Ayfer Ezgi
Published: September 2021

When the categories of a square contingency table are ordinal, weighted kappa or Gwet’s AC2 coefficients are used to summarize the degree of reliability between two raters. In addition, investigating the reliability among raters, the term category distinguishability should be considered. The study aims to assess the inter-rater reliability and category distinguishability in ordinal rating scales together. The weighted kappa, AC2, and adjusted degree of distinguishability coefficients are applied to pathology data. The results are discussed over the pathologist pairs.
Abrir caminos, emprender viajes: el currículum como experiencia de apertura
Authors: Contreras Domingo José , Manrique Ruiz Guiomar
Published: September 2021

En este artículo, mediante la indagación narrativa de historias vividas en una clase de educación primaria, se muestra una visión del currículum que lo entiende como un camino que va adquiriendo desarrollos singulares y cualidades propias en su transcurrir. Es el recorrido el que va componiendo el currículum, a partir de las historias vividas en la clase y de las historias de sus protagonistas, que se van transformando en el proceso. Un proceso de vidas e historias donde se inscriben los aprendizajes y saberes, de sí y de las cosas del mundo. El texto se estructura a partir de tres historias que permiten ver: a) la importancia de la invitación a recorrer el camino, de manera que este pueda ser habitado por sus protagonistas; b) cómo el currículum escolar entra en relación con el currículum de las vidas personales, y c) los potenciales conflictos entre las exigencias externas y las trayectorias personales.
Leer y conversar, el discurrir de la tertulia literaria en una clase de sexto
Authors: Molina Galvañ Mª Dolores
Published: September 2021

Este artículo compone la historia curricular de una experiencia de acompañamiento en un aula de Educación Primaria. La historia se centra en el discurrir de la tertulia literaria, que es la forma pedagógica con que esta maestra abre un tiempo para leer y conversar juntos en clase. Una historia que va entrelazándose con las historias que la anteceden y, a su vez, con nuevas historias que emergen a partir de ella. El artículo estructura una temporalidad que recorre longitudinalmente la trama narrativa de esta experiencia educativa mostrando, en su recorrido y de forma narrativa, los cambios, las invenciones y los desbordamientos que se van aconteciendo. Acercándonos a un modo de vivir el currículum como un plan que se va componiendo y co-componiendo en el propio proceso de enseñar y aprender.
indagación narrativa en los procesos de construcción curricular a partir de relatos de experiencias de docentes en ciernes durante la formación del profesorado
Authors: Porta Vazquez Luis Gabriel , Sarasa Muñiz María Cristina
Published: September 2021

Este trabajo constituye una indagación narrativa como pedagogía narrativa sobre experiencias formativas en el currículum del profesorado de inglés. Allí transcurren las vidas estudiantiles, cuyos relatos co-compuestos negocian significados vivenciales. Nos inscribimos en una ontología curricular del devenir y de la experiencia en el contexto de la formación inicial del profesorado de inglés en una universidad nacional argentina, con autores-investigadores participantes y 24 estudiantes. La pregunta central gira en torno a cómo se entraman las narrativas estudiantiles sobre la buena enseñanza durante su formación. Definimos al currículum como una co-construcción donde sus protagonistas crean conocimientos a partir de sus vidas. Prestarles cuidado ontológico, otorgarles respeto epistemológico y brindarles atención ética a esas existencias requieren currícula sensibles a las vidas y las experiencias relatadas. Metodológicamente, la indagación narrativa como pedagogía narrativa nos permitió urdir hebras textuales sobre la buena docencia expresadas en relatos co-narrados con los estudiantes. De nuestros entramados narrativos surgen experiencias vividas sobre el s(ab)er de la buena docencia. Concluimos elucidando las implicancias de nuestros relatos, mientras sostenemos la recuperación pública de experiencias íntimas sobre vivencias silenciadas acerca de qué es ser buen docente en los currícula de su formación.
Acoger la vida para encender lo educativo. Una indagación narrativa de experiencias vividas por futuras docentes
Authors: Hizmeri Julio , Hormazábal Fajardo Roxana , Nocetti De la Barra Alejandra , Guzmán Córdoba Pilar
Published: September 2021

El presente artículo da cuenta de experiencias vividas por profesoras en formación que colaboran en escuelas tanto municipales como particulares y subvencionadas durante su práctica pedagógica (practicum) en contextos de pandemia por COVID-19. Los propósitos que han guiado este estudio son explorar las vivencias de enseñanza experimentadas por futuras/os profesoras/es y profundizar en las singularidades y sentidos educativos de dichas experiencias. Mediante una metodología de indagación narrativa, sostenida en relatos de experiencia, conversaciones narrativas y seminarios de profundización, nos adentramos en las relaciones educativas que se dan entre las y los estudiantes, los contenidos y las profesoras en formación. Los hallazgos nos permiten mostrar que, a pesar de las imposibilidades que devienen de un nuevo contexto de enseñanza que altera las formas de estar presente, con mediaciones que aparecen y otras que desaparecen, el tiempo de encuentro convoca más que nunca la necesidad de contar con el/la alumno/a y su mundo, para que la enseñanza adquiera sentido manteniendo vivo el deseo de aprender y, ciertamente, el de enseñar.
La creación curricular en la formación de educadores
Authors: Orozco-Martínez Susana , Pañagua Domínguez Laura , Martos-Pérez María-Victoria
Published: September 2021

En el presente artículo[1] se comparte una mirada sobre posibles modos en que las relaciones educativas, sostenidas con cuidado y atención, contribuyen a desplegar no solo el currículum prescrito de forma teórica, sino de una manera más experiencial en el aula universitaria. Buscamos compartir cómo la práctica de indagar y pensar sobre las experiencias escolares y las que se van viviendo en el aula, permiten a cada uno/a ir creando y recreando elementos curriculares, desde una mirada singular, pedagógica. Con este trabajo se pretende: a) ahondar en los modos en cómo una disposición a la relación educativa puede cultivar el pensar y repensarnos como docentes, b) explorar cómo la formación puede constituirse en una experiencia de creación y, c) reconocer aquellas prácticas docentes que puedan favorecer a los procesos de creación y recreación del currículum en la formación de educadores/as. Para ello, recurrimos a la indagación narrativa (Clandinin y Connelly, 2000), porque nos posibilita apelar a la experiencia vivida y al devenir de la clase, desde una visión del currículum como un entramado único y singular que se va generando entre quienes van al encuentro de la relación educativa. Esta perspectiva nos ha posibilitado analizar cómo al acoger lo imprevisible que surge en la clase, se vivifican los procesos formativos, dando lugar a experiencias y aprendizajes cuyo valor excede lo previsto en el plan docente, abriendo nuevos elementos pedagógicos para pensar el oficio de educador/a.

 

[1] Este artículo es fruto del proyecto de investigación “Relaciones educativas y creación del currículum: entre la experiencia escolar y la formación inicial del profesorado. Indagaciones narrativas” (EDU2016-77576-P) (AEI/FEDER, UE).
Mast cells and neuroinflammation in pathogenesis of neurologic and psychiatric diseases
Authors: Grigorev Igor P. , Korzhevskii Dmitrii E.
Published: September 2021

The review summarizes current data on the role of neuroinflammation and mast cells in the pathogenesis of nervous and mental diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, depression, autism, migraine, schizophrenia and some others. The contribution of neuroinflammation to the pathogenesis of many of these diseases has been demonstrated. The involvement of mast cells in the development of the neuroinflammatory process has with varying degrees of evidence been shown for multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimers disease and migraine. There is still no convincing evidence that mast cells contribute to neuroinflammation in Parkinsons disease, depression, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder, although it is possible that they play a role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Data on the causal role of neuroinflammation and mast cells in the development of neuropsychiatric diseases may become the basis for the development of new approaches to their pharmacological treatment. The review provides data on the first clinical trials of anti-inflammatory and mast cell activity-modulating drugs for the treatment of migraine, Alzheimers disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The physicochemical properties and distribution of aluminum in the environment, the effect on living organisms, the reduction of its toxic effect
Authors: Kutai Victoriia E. , Tsygankov Vasiliy Yu.
Published: September 2021

The review examines the physicochemical properties, distribution in the environment, the effect on living organisms, including toxicity and ecotoxicity, ways of removing aluminum and its compounds from the human and animal organism. Analysis of scientific literature has shown that the widespread use of aluminum in nature, its use in the agricultural, food, cosmetic, aluminum, oil-producing industries, medicine, water treatment processes and other fields of activity leads to an increased intake of this element into the human body. The cumulative nature of the toxic effect of aluminum and its compounds leads to negative consequences for the respiratory, nervous, musculoskeletal systems, and mammary glands.
Inhibition of the complement anaphylatoxin activities in the central nervous system disorders
Authors: Nekrasova Kseniya A. , Ischenko Alexander M. , Trofimov Alexander V.
Published: September 2021

The review is devoted to inhibition of the complement anaphylatoxin activities in diseases of the central nervous system. Here we present epidemiological data on the prevalence of cerebrovascular diseases, in particular, ischemic stroke and craniocerebral trauma. The mechanisms of complement activation and complement-mediated pathology in the central nervous system are considered in detail. Clinical data confirming the role of the complement system in the pathogenesis of stroke and of traumatic brain injury secondary injury are presented. We also summarize the results of in vivo specific activity studies of the complement anaphylatoxin inhibitors using animal models of stroke and traumatic brain injury. Briefly described is the present state of the art in developing drugs that target the effector compounds of the complement cascade.
Myeloperoxidase/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio in patients with arterial hypertension and chronic coronary heart disease
Authors: Churashova Irina A. , Sokolov Alexey V. , Kostevich Valeria A. , Gorbunov Nikolay P. , Runova Olga L. , Firova Elvira M. , Vasilyev Vadim B.
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND: Myeloperoxidase (MPO), the enzyme of leukocytes, catalyzes the production of reactive halogen species, which can modify the structure of lipoproteins. Chlorination and nitration of tyrosine residues in apolipoprotein A-1 lead to the formation of dysfunctional high-density lipoproteins (HDL-p), thus blocking the reverse cholesterol transport. Low level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is associated with exacerbation of coronary heart disease, but the prognostic value of this index is not fully assessed.
AIM: The aim of this study was to examine a possible contribution of MPO to the atherosclerotic plaque development (the stable growth or the erosion and rupture) via the modification of HDL-p. That is to say we investigated the diagnostic values of measuring the total MPO (MPO-T), the active MPO (MPO-A) and the MPO/HDL-С relation in patients with hypertension and various forms of chronic coronary heart disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cohort under study included 44 patients with arterial hypertension and chronic coronary heart disease. All patients were divided into three groups according to the diagnosis: arterial hypertension without coronary heart disease (Group I, n = 20); arterial hypertension and the initially stable chronic coronary heart disease without acute complications in the anamnesis (Group II, n = 14); arterial hypertension and myocardial infarction (acute coronary syndrome) in the anamnesis (Group III, n = 10). The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for MPO-T and specific immuno-extraction followed by enzymatic detection (SIEFED) by fluorogenic substrate for MPO-A were applied. After that the ratio MPO-T/HDL-C or MPO-A/HDL-C was calculated.
RESULTS: The MPO-A and MPO-A/HDL-C ratio were significantly increased in the group III of patients with old myocardial infarction as compared with the patients of group II who had the initially stable coronary heart disease (p = 0.009 and p = 0.003, respectively). Besides, the level of HDL-C in the group III was significantly reduced (p = 0.013). Our measurements revealed the negative correlation between MPO-A and HDL-C concentrations (r = 0.31; p 0.05), which is in line with the presumption of the study accomplished. Surprisingly, the correlation between MPO-T/HDL-C ratio and that MPO-A/HDL-C was stronger (r = 0.72; p 0.05), than between MPO-T and MPO-A (r = 0.36; p 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates the importance of assessing MPO-T and MPO-A plasma concentrations and of calculating the ratio MPO/HDL-C as promising biomarkers in the complicated cases of chronic coronary heart disease. MPO-A and MPO-A/HDL-C values were elevated in the patients with old myocardial infarction, while the concentration of HDL-C remained decreased upon the transition from the acute to chronic phase of the disease.
Morphological differences in the commissural connections of the forebrain in white outbred mice and BALB/C mice
Authors: Karpova Inessa V. , Popkovsky Nikita A. , Proshin Sergey N. , Bychkov Evgeny R. , Tissen Ilia Y. , Droblenkov Andrey V.
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND: The study of the mechanisms of interaction of paired structures of the mammalian brain is a fundamental problem of modern neuroscience, which is of great applied importance. Even mild underdevelopment of the corpus callosum in humans can lead to autism. It is known that the intensity of intraspecific interactions in BALB/c mice is lower than in white outbred ones, while some BALB/c substrains are characterized by underdevelopment of the corpus callosum.
AIM: To compare the morphological parameters of the large brain commissures in white outbred mice and BALB/c mice grown in the Rappolovo nursery (Leningrad region).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The morphology of the corpus callosum was studied in 13 male white outbred mice and 7 male BALB/c mice at the age of 8 months.
RESULTS: In mice of both subpopulations, the area of the anterior commissure of the left hemisphere was smaller than that of the right hemisphere (p 0.05). There were no differences between subpopulations in this parameter. The area of the left section of the corpus callosum trunkus in outbred mice was larger than the right one (p 0.001), while in BALB/c mice the areas of the left and right slices did not differ. Despite the absence of significant differences in the area of the anterior part (rostrum et genu) of the corpus callosum the density of the location of oligodendrocytes in this brain structure in the mice of the two subpopulations was different. The number of oligodendrocytes in 0.01 mm2 on the left section of the anterior part of the corpus callosum in BALB/c mice was greater than in white outbred mice (p 0.05). A similar trend was revealed when comparing slices of the right hemisphere (p = 0.065).
CONCLUSIONS: The large area of the right parasagittal slice of the anterior commissure suggests that some of its constituent fibers do not cross the midline, but end within the same hemisphere, which may be the morphological basis for the functional dominance of the temporal cortex of the left hemisphere in mice of both subpopulations. The corpus callosum in BALB/c mice is developed symmetrically, and in white outbred ones asymmetrically. This feature may be the morphological basis for the functional dominance of the parietal cortex of the right hemisphere in outbred animals.
Attenuation of the Lg phase and the determination of mb in the southeastern United States
Authors: Bollinger G. A.
Published: September 2021

abstract

A study of the Lg radiation from 17 southeastern U.S. earthquakes shows the attenuation of that phase to be at a 0.07°−1 rate for epicentral distances of 100 to 700 km. At longer distances, it is also at that rate for some of the earthquakes, but for five of the events it was at a somewhat greater (0.10°−1) rate. These different Lg attenuation rates are clearly a distance-related effect, but they are not caused by differences in source area, propagation path, radiation pattern, wave period, or group velocity. A possible explanation for the different attenuation rates is a shift from a normal-mode form of propagation to a leaking-mode form, brought about by slight phase-velocity variations in the crustal wave guide and/or in the underlying layer. Also, the influence of lateral heterogeneity and variations in the thickness of the crustal wave guide offer alternative explanations.

Nuttli's (1973) mb (Lg) formulas, determined for central U.S. events, were found to be appropriate for use on southeastern U.S. shocks if their application is restricted to epicentral distances less than 2,000 km. This distance-restriction result agrees with that determined for the northeastern U.S. earthquakes by Street (1976).
Seismic system calibration: 1. Parametric models
Authors: Farrell W. E. , Berger J.
Published: September 2021

abstract

We describe linear models of the IDA (International Deployment of Accelerometers) and SRO (Seismic Research Observatories) feedback seismometers obtained by straightforward analysis of the control systems. The most important property of these models is the theoretical transfer function they yield, relating Earth acceleration to output voltage. The parameterization of the theoretical transfer function is described. Several uses of the system models and transfer function are discussed, but we conclude that the parameterized models do not provide a sufficiently accurate means of describing the installed accelerometer's behavior. A speedier, more automatic and more accurate calibration can be obtained by electrically perturbing the seismometer system. This technique is discussed in Part 2.
Secondary faulting near the terminus of a seismogenic strike-slip fault: Aftershocks of the 1976 Guatemala earthquake
Authors: Langer C. J. , Bollinger G. A.
Published: September 2021

abstract

Aftershocks of the February 4, 1976 Guatemalan earthquake (Ms = 7.5) were monitored by a network of portable seismographs from February 9 to February 27. Although seismic data were obtained all along the 230-km surface rupture of the causal Motagua fault, the field program was designed to concentrate on the aftershock activity at the western terminus of the fault. Data from that locale revealed several linear or near-linear trends of aftershock epicenters that splay to the southwest away from the western end of the main fault. These trends correlate spatially with mapped surface lineaments and, to some degree, with ground breakage patterns near Guatemala City. The observed splay pattern of aftershocks and the normal-faulting mode of the splay earthquakes determined from composite focal mechanism solutions, may be explained by a theoretical pattern of stress trajectories at the terminus of a strike-slip fault. Composite focal mechanism solutions for aftershocks located on or near the surface break of the Motagua fault, to the north and east of the linear trend splay area, agree with the mapped surface movements, i.e., left-lateral strike-slip.
Source mechanism and surface-wave attenuation studies for Tibet earthquake of July 14, 1973
Authors: Singh D. D. , Gupta Harsh K.
Published: September 2021

abstract

Focal mechanism for Tibet earthquake of July 14, 1973 (M = 6.9, mb = 6.0) has been determined using the P-wave first motions, S-wave polarization angles, and surface-wave spectral data. A normal faulting is obtained with a plane having strike N3°W, dip 51°W, and slip angle 81°. The source parameters have been estimated for this event using the body- and surface-wave spectra. The seismic moment, fault length, apparent stress, stress drop, seismic energy release, average dislocation, and fault area are estimated to be 2.96 × 1026 dyne-cm, 27.4 km, 14 bars, 51 bars, 1.4 × 1022 ergs, 157 cm, and 628 km2, respectively. The high stress drop and apparent stress associated with this earthquake indicate that the high stresses are prevailing in this region. The specific quality factor Q is found to vary from 21 to 1162 and 22 to 1110 for Rayleigh and Love waves, respectively. These wide ranges of variation in the attenuation data may be due to the presence of heterogeneity in the crust and upper mantle.
A study of earthquakes in the Permian Basin of Texas-New Mexico
Authors: Rogers A. M. , Malkiel A.
Published: September 2021

abstract

A microearthquake seismograph network has been employed to study earthquakes occurring in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico. The earthquakes are predominantly located on the Central Basin platform, although a few occur in the Delaware Basin. The majority of the earthquakes occur at the depths of sedimentary rocks, and the focal depths are also coincident with the depths at which hydrocarbon production and water-flood (secondary recovery) operations are conducted. Comparison of the historic earthquake activity with water-flood data shows that there was a possible increase in the number of large earthquakes (M > 3.0) in the mid-1960's when the number of water-flood projects and their injection pressures increased. The first felt event occurred in 1966. This tentative correlation suggests that the earthquakes are related to hydrocarbon production in this area.
Estimate of the focal depth of deep earthquakes and some structural implications for the deep seismic activity in the Tyrrhenian region
Authors: Bottari A. , Federico B.
Published: September 2021

abstract

We describe a method for determining the depth of deep earthquakes utilizing the travel-time differences TS - TP and TPdP - TP relative to P, S, and PdP waves (Pdp indicates P waves reflected off the 20° discontinuity), observed at a single station.

This method has provided valid results and the values calculated for about 20 earthquakes in the Tyrrhenian and Greek areas show differences in the region of ± 10 and ± 15 km, respectively when compared with the corresponding values obtained by statistical methods.

Starting from an analysis of the spatial distribution of 48 intermediate and deep foci in the Tyrrhenian area and from the study of travel-time residuals and of the initial motion at MES, we go on to a critical examination of a number of hypotheses regarding the deep structure of the area examined.

The spatial distribution and the data gathered agree with a certain number of physical parameters characteristic of an underlying lithospheric slab, which appears to be the most valid structural model for the southern Tyrrhenian region, for which one can estimate a frontage of ∼250 km, an average dip of 46°, and an azimuth of 297°. In the last 40 years the major seismic area has been that between 220 and 340 km in depth, corresponding to the zone under maximum tension. Instead, the slab's terminal zone, beyond a depth of 430 km, appears to be under compression.
Human perception of T waves: The June 22, 1977 Tonga earthquake felt on Tahiti
Authors: Talandier Jacques , Okal Emile A.
Published: September 2021

abstract

We report human perception of seismic waves generated on the island of Tahiti by exceptionally large T waves, following a major earthquake in the Tonga area. The generation mechanism of the T waves and their smaller amplitudes at other Pacific stations are explained in relation to source and receiver bathymetry, focal mechanism, and magnitude of the event. It is concluded that a series of favorable path conditions, rather than the size of the event (Ms = 7.8; Mw = 8.1), were responsible for the giant T waves felt at Tahiti.
Public policy issues: Earthquake prediction
Authors: Paté Marie-Elisabeth , Shah Haresh C.
Published: September 2021

abstract

The object of this paper is to provide a method of cost-benefit analysis of earthquake prediction as a means of mitigation of earthquake effects. The research in earthquake prediction may or may not be successful and involves an initial cost. Earthquake prediction, if achieved, on the one hand provides society with information which allows it to take protective measures. On the other hand, each prediction involves the costs of those measures and the consequent disruption of economic life. The question is to assess the value of such information in a given state of the prediction technology.

The evaluation of a fault-monitoring program and its consequences for the public at the time of predictions is performed over a 50-year period. A rate of growth, a social rate of discount, and a rate of improvement over time of earthquake prediction techniques are assumed.

A model “TREE” is developed; it allows computation, for each year, of the expected value of the earthquake prediction information—expected costs minus expected benefits. The life component and the dollar component of the net result are kept separate throughout the evaluation.

The final result is an expected cost per life saved through the earthquake prediction program over a 50-year time period. This allows comparison with the results of earthquake engineering and building codes (see Paté, 1978). It also allows comparison with the results obtained in other public sectors involving risk mitigation—health and transportation, for example.

A numerical example has been worked out for the case of the San Francisco Bay Area; it gives a first approach to the results that can be expected from a prediction system with different assumptions on the success of research in that field.

This paper is based on the doctoral thesis at Stanford University of M-E. Paté, under the supervision of Professor H. C. Shah.
Earthquake faulting and bedding thrust associated with the Tabas-e-Golshan (Iran) earthquake of September 16, 1978
Authors: Berberian M.
Published: September 2021

abstract

The Tabas-e-Golshan earthquake of magnitude Ms = 7.7 occurred in a region of east central Iran known to have been quiescent for at least 11 centuries. The shock was associated with 85 km of discontinuous thrust faulting at the surface along an existing but unrecognized late Quaternary fault (the Tabas Fault). Nearly all the surface breaks followed the obvious scarps created by the previous faulting. An extensive zone of “bedding thrusts” (bedding-plane slip) was also developed in the Neogene clay deposits of the overthrust block, east of the main fault zone. Minimum vertical uplift (throw) and slip measured at about 150 and 300 cm, respectively. The deformation caused by this earthquake indicates crustal thickening of the region, i.e. uplifting along the earthquake fault. The Tabas Fault is one of the principal structures by which the western flank of the Shotori mountains is raised about 2 km above the alluvial deposits of the Tabas compressional graben. It is a multi-role deep-seated Precambrian fault and one of the major features during Paleozoic and Mesozoic, in the western part of the fault-controlled subsiding sedimentary basin of Shotori.

The earthquake killed more than 20,000 people and severely damaged or destroyed about 90 villages together with the town of Tabas. This catastrophic event emphasizes once more the importance of mapping recent faults and the careful field study of structures associated with low-magnitude buried earthquakes. In the case of Tabas, the lack of historical seismic damage over the past 11 centuries meant that there was no adequate assessment of the seismicity and seismic hazard on this basis. A comparison of the Plio-Pleistocene and Late Quaternary crustal deformation with that associated with this earthquake indicates the intra-plate deformation to be essentially unchanging since that time, and the regional stress field to be not greatly changed since the late Alpine phase.

The present state of knowledge about regional tectonics and seismicity suggests the country to be a broad zone of compressional deformation, the present deformation being taken up mostly by the existing late Quaternary mountain-bordering reverse faults inherited from the old geological times. The seismicity is widespread along several faults and the continental crust is thickening and shortening in the NE-SW direction.
Autoregressive parameters for a suite of strong-motion accelerograms
Authors: Jurkevics Andrejs , Ulrych Tad J.
Published: September 2021

abstract

The time-adaptive technique of Jurkevics and Ulrych (1978) has been used to analyze a suite of rock-site accelerograms recorded during two ML = 6.4 earthquakes in California. One of the parameters which models the earthquake, the innovation variance σe2, has been found to vary with epicentral distance according to (σe2)max ∝ D-3.23. The shaking duration exhibits a linear variation with log(D) after a finite distance away from the fault. The above results allow the construction of artificial accelerograms for arbitrary epicentral distances ML = 6.4 earthquakes in California.