AbstractIn Connection Research Articles

Exploring the potential of sentiment analysis for the study of negative empathy

Abstract In connection to literature, negative empathy is a sophisticated form of narrative empathy with fictional characters portrayed as markedly evil and seductive at the same time. Several studies on narrative engagement have explored negative empathy mainly from a theoretical perspective. Conversely, empirical approaches have rarely delved into the dynamics of the linguistic construction of the texts studied. To fill this gap, this paper employs computational techniques to investigate the language of a corpus of novels whose characters are particularly apt for the arousal of negative empathy. More specifically, this study uses Sentiment and Emotion Analysis to explore the lexical representation of emotions and to locate fluctuations in the emotional content of the texts. The ultimate aim is to assess both the potential and the vulnerabilities of Sentiment Analysis for detecting emotional shifts in a literary text and thus for revealing the intensity of its emotional content, which may facilitate the readers’ morally challenging engagement with negative characters.

Technology of Obtaining Mixed Alternative Fuel Based on Organic Substances for Mining Technological Transport Engines

Abstract In connection with the increase in the price of fuel based on hydrocarbons, the search and use of alternative types of fuel for machines in the mining and oil production industry is quite relevant today. Most of the existing alternative fuels by themselves cannot be considered as ready-to-use motor fuels. One of the ways to solve this problem is to use their mixtures with commercial fuels in certain ratios. This work deals with the development and research of the main characteristics of the mixer for obtaining mixed fuels based on diesel fuel and soybean oil, as well as the results of the study of the physical and operational properties of the obtained mixtures of different volume ratios of diesel fuel and soybean oil. The process of obtaining a mixed alternative fuel based on diesel fuel and soybean oil was implemented on a developed installation consisting of a mixer, the design of which is protected by a patent of Ukraine, and a gear pump. The study of the characteristics of the mixer as part of the installation showed that at a temperature of the components of the alternative fuel of 20°С, with a loss of full pressure on the mixer Δр ≈ (60-65) kPa, the volume consumption of soybean oil reached 10.7.10-6 m3/s. The time of preparation of the fuel mixture in the amount of 195 liters with a content of soybean oil of 10% ranged from 30 to 33 minutes. As research has shown, mixing soybean oil with diesel fuel in the amount of 5-50% vol. provides an improvement in viscosity-temperature properties and makes it possible to use such mixtures in diesel engines without changes in the design of the power supply system and regulation of fuel equipment, which characterizes soybean oil as a promising additive to diesel fuels to improve their technical and operational performance.

Prisoners During the Pandemic

Abstract In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, all countries of the world are taking actions to minimize the spread of the virus. These actions interfere with civil rights and liberties. They particularly affect convicts who serve prison sentences, as such sentences deprive them many of their rights or significantly restrict them. Recognizing the situation of prisoners at this difficult time, in March 2020, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (CPT) issued the Statement of principles relating to the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)1, while the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment prepared Advice to States parties and national preventive mechanisms to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether our country, while taking certain actions, takes into account the recommendations contained in both aforementioned documents.

Populations of Heracleum sosnowskyi and H. mantegazzianum (Apiaceae) in Kyiv (Ukraine)

Abstract In connection with the increasing negative impact of invasive alien species on biodiversity and the environment in general, their research, as well as throughout the world, is relevant. The distribution of the Heracleum sosnowskyi and H. mantegazzianum of the secondary range on the example of the Kyiv agglomeration is investigated in the work. In our study we aimed to evaluate the possibility of spontaneous spread of giant hogweeds in the secondary range, adaptation of the species to the new conditions of the environment that favor to control of these species’ expansion and reduce the threat to the urban ecosystems and citizens’ health. We hypothesise that in the secondary range H. sosnowskyi and H. mantegazzianum settle sites with relatively high temperature (Tr), lightening (Lc), and soil moisture conditions similar to that in their natural range. 17 populations and four localities (sites) of H. sosnowskyi and H. mantegazzianum were studied. They were found within forest, meadow, riverine and ruderal plant communities. It is indicated that the advent species fully adapted to the conditions of the environment. The difference by ecological indicators Lc2 and Tm1 is pointed out. According to the results of our research, for the area of Kyiv urban agglomeration the growth of H. sosnowskyi and H. mantegazzianum is indicated in the plants communities of six classes. They spread most in ruderal plant communities of the: Robinietea, Artemisietea, Epilobietea classes. The studied species belong to invasive plant species in Ukraine and are characterized by extremely high effect on the environment and high invasive potential.

Model Study toward Total Synthesis of Dimeric Pyranonaphthoquinones: Synthesis of Hemi-Actinorhodin

Abstract In connection with our synthetic study toward the dimeric pyranonaphthoquinone antibiotics, actinorhodin (1) and β-naphthocyclinone (3), we describe herein the synthesis of a monomer, hemi-actinorhodin (6) as a model target. Several implications were gained, including (1) stereoselective synthesis of the pyranonaphthoquinone, (2) viable construction of the naphthazarin core, and (3) the final deprotection conditions.

Patient safety in the operating theatre

Abstract In connection with medical services provided, many patients are exposed to harm that may lead to permanent health impairment, hospitalisation, extended hospital stay or even death. Adverse events are reported and are the result of a complex nature of current healthcare systems, in which effective therapy and treatment outcomes of every patient depend on numerous factors, and not only on competencies of individual healthcare professionals. Individual healthcare professionals can contribute to improving the safety of care by establishing respectful relationships with patients, following procedures, learning from mistakes, and communicating effectively with other members of the therapeutic team. This also decreases costs associated with reduction of harm sustained by patients. Reporting and analysis of errors may help identify major factors that have contributed to their occurrence. In order to consider changes that could prevent errors, at first it is necessary to learn about factors that led to them. An operating theatre is the heart of every hospital. It is where complex and highly specialized surgical procedures are performed in line with state-of-the-art procedures and applicable standards. It is also where employees of various wards meet to perform their crucial tasks that save lives. Patient’s well-being is a paramount value for a therapeutic team working in the operating theatre. The main goal of surgical nurse is, in turn, to ensure a holistic and individual approach to the patient in accordance with applicable law, procedures and recommendations.

Steady and Transient Thermal State of Turbine Disk Estimation for Life Time Monitoring

Abstract In connection with increasing intensification of the working process in a gas turbine engine and increasing requirements for economy, the problem of defining and monitoring the main parts lifetime is becoming more vital. Modern algorithms of the monitoring systems are based on taking into account the levels of part temperature and total equivalent stress throughout the flight cycle. Thermal and stress-strain states of the critical zones of the main parts are determined on the basis of information received from the sensors installed in the engine gas path. Turbine disks are located in the internal cavities of the engine and are cooled by air from the compressor. However, in some designs, the disk cavity can be separated from the place of cooling air bleed by several stages of non-contact labyrinth seals, which will lead to some delay in changing the parameters of the cooling air flow when changing the engine operating mode. It has been observed that if this situation is not taken into account, it can lead to significant errors (more than 40%) in determining the lifetime for the peripheral zone of the disk. At the same time, this error is minimal for the hub and the middle zone of the disk, and the existing monitoring algorithms can be used.

Foreign trusts in the Czech Republic: mostly recognized and (sometimes) registered

Abstract In connection with the recodification of private law in effect from 2014, several innovations have appeared in the Czech legal system. Among them were trust funds, i.e. Czech trust-like instruments, as well as rules for recognizing foreign trust structures. Although their position has significantly improved as a result, the operation of foreign trust structures in the Czech Republic still gives rise to some questions to which the current Czech law does not have any clear answers. Drawing attention to those issues, the aim of this article is to suggest some measures that can be taken in order to limit the risks arising in relation to foreign trusts.

New Impulse, New Challenges. Safety Procedures in a Production Enterprise. A Case Study

Abstract In connection with the entry into force of the Anti-terrorism Act, administrators of many production facilities are required to prepare a number of anti-terrorism procedures called anti-terrorist/AT attachment (Security plan related to facilities and equipment subject to mandatory protection in respect of terrorist threats). The article is a case study of the AT attachment implementation in several production plants belonging to one enterprise. It characterizes the strategy adopted in this company and the solutions developed in 2017-2019 in several production plants. The purpose of the article is to show why the implementation of this procedure is a challenge for the company.

High Correlation between Ethanol Concentrations in Postmortem Femoral Blood and in Alternative Biological Specimens, but Large Uncertainty When the Linear Regression Model Was Used for Prediction in Individual Cases

In connection with medicolegal autopsies peripheral blood (e.g. from a femoral vein) is the specimen of choice for toxicological analysis, although alternative specimens are also sometimes submitted, such as bile, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), vitreous humor (VH), bladder urine, pleural effusions and/or lung fluid. Ethanol concentrations were determined in duplicate in femoral blood and in various alternative biological specimens by headspace gas chromatography. The analysis was carried out on two different fused silica capillary columns furnishing different retention times for ethanol and both n-propanol and t-butanol were used as internal standards. The results were evaluated by linear regression using blood alcohol concentration (BAC) as dependent or outcome variable and the concentrations in an alternative specimen as independent or predictor variable. The Pearson correlation coefficients were all statistically highly significant (P<0.001); r=0.94 (bile), r=0.98 (CSF), r=0.97 (VH), r=0.92 (urine), r=0.94 (lung fluid) and r=0.96 (pleural cavity effusions). When the regression model was used to predict femoral BAC from the mean concentration in an alternative specimen the mean and 95% prediction intervals were 1.12±0.824g/L (bile), 1.41±0.546g/L (CSF), 1.15±0.42g/L (VH), 1.29±0.780g/L (urine), 1.25±0.772g/L (lung fluid) and 0.68±0.564g/L (pleural cavity effusions). This large uncertainty for a single new observation needs to be considered when alcohol-related deaths are evaluated and interpreted. However, the analysis of alternative specimens is recommended in medical examiner cases to provide supporting evidence with regard to the origin of ethanol, whether this reflects antemortem (AM) ingestion or postmortem (PM) synthesis.

An Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Company: A Stochastic Model of Resources Overbooking

Abstract In connection with the rapid development of commerce of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), the optimality of their use with UAV companies (UAVCo) is becoming increasingly important. The basis of such companies are mobile units (mobile units (MU)), which include UAV, means of their delivery to the place of rendering services and maintenance personnel. A problem of determining the optimal level of orders for the use of MU with UAVCo has been formulated and solved. The task is formulated as an overbooking task. The process under investigation is described as a discrete-time Markov chain corresponding to 24 hours. Based on a fixed number of MU and a fixed overbooking level, distributions for the number of orders on hand, the number of unfulfilled customs, and the average income with an MU usage fee and penalties for unfulfilled orders factored in have been calculated. The solution method has been tested on a particular model. For calculation used language and computer environment MathCAD.

To Theory of Montanistic Tourism

Abstract In connection with the growth of interest in technical monuments, montanistic tourism, focusing on subjects related to the use of mineral resources, is earmarked as a specific type of tourism. The article analyses the legitimacy of treating the montanistic tourism as a separate transdisciplinary field of science with its own research subject and interested people, own theoretical basis and terminology, and methodology.

The collision that changed the world

Abstract In connection with the Anthropocene, one might ask how climate is likely to evolve in the absence of man’s intervention and whether humans will be able to purposefully alter this course. In this commentary, I deal with the situation for very long time scales. I make a case that fifty million years ago, the collision between the northward drifting Indian land mass and Asia set the Earth’s climate on a new course. Ever since then, it has cooled. In the absence of some other dramatic disruption in the movement of the plates which make up our planet’s crust, on the time scale of tens of millions of years, this drift would cause the Earth to freeze over as it did during the late Precambrian. Evidence for this change in course comes from records of oxygen and lithium isotopic composition of foraminifer shells. It is reinforced by records of Mg to Ca in halite-hosted fluid inclusions and in marine CaCO3. In addition, the collision appears to have created abrupt changes in the sulfur isotope composition of marine barite and the carbon isotope composition of amber. Not only did this collision create the Himalaya, but more important, it led to a reorganization of the crustal plate motions. Through some combination of the building of mountains and lowering of sea level, these changes generated a mismatch between the supply of CO2 by planetary outgassing and that of calcium by the weathering of silicate rock. The tendency toward an oversupply of calcium has been compensated by a drawdown of the atmosphere’s CO2 content. This drawdown cooled the Earth, slowing down the supply of calcium. Although we are currently inadvertently compensating for this cooling by burning fossil fuels, the impacts of this CO2 on Earth climate will last no more than a tenth of a million years. So, if humans succeed in avoiding extinction, there will likely be a long-term effort to warm the planet.

Knowledge Acquisition Approach Based On Svm In An Online Aided Decision System For Food Processing Quality And Safety

Abstract In connection with the problem that the food processing information system is poor due to the absence of knowledge acquisition and a knowledge selfupdating function, a knowledge acquisition approach, based on a Support Vector Machine (SVM) is proposed. First, the approach establishes a set of predicted samples for the relationship between the food processing parameters and product quality; then it uses discretization of the continuous attributes, attributes reduction and a rule extraction algorithm of SVM to automatically acquire predicted knowledge from a large number of predicted sample sets. After that it saves the predicted knowledge in the knowledge base of an expert system; finally, the method realizes extraction of the knowledge about the food processing process based on the inference engine, which greatly enhances the efficiency and applicability of the acquired knowledge in an online aided decision system of food processing quality and safety.

μ-Oxo-Bridged Subphthalocyanine Dimers: Preparation and Characterization by X-ray Structure Analysis

Abstract In connection with our previous research on μ-oxo-bridged metal phthalocyanine dimers, we have synthesized μ-oxo-bridged subphthalocyanine dimers (μ-oxo subpc dimers) with various peripheral substituents and studied their properties. Compared to the corresponding subpc monomer, the Q-band absorption of subpc dimers broadens, the wavelength undergoes a blue shift by approximately 30–35 nm, and the molar absorptivity is enhanced almost 1.5–2.0 times. Additionally, its solubility in various organic solvents is much improved. We carried out an X-ray crystal structure analysis of [{B(subpc)}2O] and provided a direct observation of its asymmetric structure for the first time.

On lattice embeddings of a lattice into its intervals

Abstract In connection with his investigation of convexities generated by fractal lattices, Czédli formulated a conjecture concerning lattice embeddings of a lattice into its intervals. In the present note we modify the conditions from Czédli’s conjecture; we consider only intervals having more than two elements. Further, we prove the validity of Czédli’s conjecture.

Towards an ethic of “Inescapable situations”

Abstract In connection with the traditional principles of Bioethics, we wonder if they are able to make us understand the terminal patient and those who look after him and his family, or if it will be necessary to “go backwards” (Schritt zurück) - to speak in Heidegger’s terms- up to reach that unavoidable principle that guides and inspires the application of the others. The thought of Emmanuel Levinas can place us near an answer. In fact, he insists that it is the “other” in his face the one that it is imposed with its own strength, as a being essentially ethic and before its presence the only response is to recognize him/her as constitutively “indigent”. Precisely, before any other theory or any other argument, the “other” is presented to me face-to-face, his own presence is already existence of his acknowledgment, it is a call and a appeal to responsibility. Since Ethic demands primarily a complete dedication of all the person, that is to say a radical commitment of reason, will and feelings, we ask ourselves in front of these patients to get for them a new shelter. Serenity, availability, comforted mood among threats, patience, gratitude and hope may become founding virtues of interpersonal relationships (Bollnow).

Synthetic studies on the marine natural product halichondrins

Abstract In connection with the de elopment of a practical synthesis of the right half, and its analog E7389, of halichondrin B, an efficient and scalable synthesis of the two major building blocks is reported. In addition, a new synthesis of the C20–C26 segment via a regiospecific and stereoselecti e SN2' process is presented. A sulfonamide class of ligands is shown to be effective for asymmetric Ni/Cr-mediated reactions under both stoichiometric and catalytic conditions, and the X-ray structure reveals this class of ligands to be tridentate. On the basis of three X-ray structures, a possible mechanism is suggested for this process. Stable and crystalline Cr(III)/sulfonamide complexes are shown to be effective for catalytic Cr-mediated coupling reactions of allyl, alkenyl, and alkyl halides with aldehydes, and some examples for application of the stoichiometric and catalytic asymmetric processes are presented.

Synthetic Studies on Novel Sulfur-Containing Alkaloids, Prianosins Isolated from the Marine Sponge Prianos melanos. Synthesis of the Spirodienone Moiety by Phenolic Oxidation

Abstract In connection with sulfur-containing alkaloids, prianosins, a spiro derivative has been synthesized by phenolic oxidation of a phenol precursor with thallium(III) oxidation or electrochemical oxidation media.

Synthesis of S-Methyl 2-Hydroxyalkanethioates, 2-Hydroxyalkanoic Acids and Related Compounds via the Addition Reaction of Tris(methylthio)methanide Ion to Alkanals

Abstract In connection with the studies on biological activities on myrmicacin and related compounds, the synthetic method for 2-hydroxyalkanoic acids and the corresponding 1,2-diols was studied. The addition reaction of tris(methylthio)methyllithium to the aldehydes (propanal–dodecanal) gave the corresponding 1,1,1-tris(methylthio)-2-alkanols 1a–j. Treatment of 1 with mercury(II) chloride–mercury(II) oxide in water–acetone afforded S-methyl 2-hydroxyalkanethioates 2a–j, and in methanol methyl 2-hydroxyalkanoates 3c–j were obtained. Reduction of the thioates 2 with lithium aluminium hydride gave 1,2-diols 4c–j and saponification produced the corresponding 2-hydroxyalkanoic acids 5c–j.