Present Survey Research Articles

Slobodní v neslobode. Kľúčové odkazy kresťanských disidentov z obdobia komunizmu na Slovensku

During the communist totalitarianism in Slovakia between 1948 and 1989, Christian dissent and the branching structure of the underground church represented a significant and most massive force opposing the regime. Its history is factually meticulously mapped, and the testimonies of direct actors are captured in numerous autobiographies and biographies. The present work surveys more than 400 previous book and journal publications on these topics. It then enriches previous knowledge by analysing, categorising, and summarising the essential ideas from the legacy of committed Christian dissidents: their motivations, values, lessons from living under pressure and persecution, as well as parallels with, and messages for, the present day. The ideas scattered throughout the many works of biography and memoir are thus neatly summarized and sorted into nine categories. The author has compiled them on the basis of in-depth research interviews with 11 representatives of Christian dissent active during the period of normalization (1968-1989).

Stochastic Modeling of Star Formation Histories. III. Constraints from Physically Motivated Gaussian Processes

Galaxy formation and evolution involve a variety of effectively stochastic processes that operate over different timescales. The extended regulator model provides an analytic framework for the resulting variability (or “burstiness”) in galaxy-wide star formation due to these processes. It does this by relating the variability in Fourier space to the effective timescales of stochastic gas inflow, equilibrium, and dynamical processes influencing giant molecular clouds' creation and destruction using the power spectral density (PSD) formalism. We use the connection between the PSD and autocovariance function for general stochastic processes to reformulate this model as an autocovariance function, which we use to model variability in galaxy star formation histories (SFHs) using physically motivated Gaussian processes in log star formation rate (SFR) space. Using stellar population synthesis models, we then explore how changes in model stochasticity can affect spectral signatures across galaxy populations with properties similar to the Milky Way and present-day dwarfs, as well as at higher redshifts. We find that, even at fixed scatter, perturbations to the stochasticity model (changing timescales vs. overall variability) leave unique spectral signatures across both idealized and more realistic galaxy populations. Distributions of spectral features including Hα and UV-based SFR indicators, Hδ and Ca H and K absorption-line strengths, D n (4000), and broadband colors provide testable predictions for galaxy populations from present and upcoming surveys with the Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope, and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The Gaussian process SFH framework provides a fast, flexible implementation of physical covariance models for the next generation of spectral energy distribution modeling tools. Code to reproduce our results can be found at https://github.com/kartheikiyer/GP-SFH.

A MEDICAL AND NEUROPSYCHIATRIC MANAGEMENT SURVEY IN A BRAZILIAN COHORT OF PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE (IBD).

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be accompanied by several neurological disorders. Since 2004, we started a Brazilian cohort to assess neuropsychiatric complications in IBD patients. Changes in therapeutic strategy and differences in the prevalence and relevance of neuropsychiatric disorders have been reported in the literature. We conducted a short patient-reported survey about the medical management of IBD (with a special focus on neuropsychiatric management) and its complications. During the enrollment period (9/1/2021 to 8/31/2022), 279 patients with IBD answered the survey (128 patients with ulcerative colitis and 151 with Crohn's disease). This is the first medical management survey aimed to verify the level of perception of IBD patients about their neuropsychiatric conditions. We found a high prevalence of neurologic (59%), psychiatric (32%), and neuropsychiatric co-morbidities (69%). There is a marked discrepancy between the findings of neurological disorders reported in our studies over the first 10 years of the cohort in comparison with the current perception/knowledge among the patients registered in the present management survey. Patients tend to have a better understanding of central rather than peripheral nerve conditions. • What is already known? • The prevalence and spectrum of neuropsychiatric co-morbidities varies among different epidemiologic studies. • What is new here? • Patients self report a high percentage of neuropsychiatric diseases but tend to better recognize central rather than peripheral nervous system disorders. • How can this study help patient care? • This study may guide practioners to educate IBD patients about their neuropsychiatric co-morbidities.

Development of RP-HPLC Method of Tizanidine HCL with Some Validation Parameter.

This study compiles the information for the development of analytical methods for estimation of the Tizanidine HCl that will be helpful for further research work on this drug and its impurity. The present Literature survey provides information about the Analytical methods like UV,TLC,RP-HPLC,HPTLC,UHPLC and other methods have been reported for Tizanidine HCl drug individually and along with other drugs. The analysis of published data revealed that, there was only UV spectroscopic method (calibration curve metod) is reported for estimation of Tizanidine HCl fixed dose combination. Estimation of Tizanidine HCl by superlative RP-HPLC method i.e. Mobile phase- Acetonitrile: phosphate buffer (pH: 7.5) (50:50%v/v), Column C18 (250mm*4mm*5µm), Flow rate- 1.0 ml/min, Wavelength: 318 nm. Optimized HPLC condition was validated by assessing validation parameters and it meet the acceptance criteria set by ICH. It was showed method was linear and precise. The validated RP-HPLC-PDA method can be used for routine analysis of Tizanidine HCl in tablet.

Perfil do acupunturista veterinário no Brasil

ABSTRACT: Veterinary acupuncture is a complementary and alternative medicine practiced widely in Brazil and is recognized as a specialty by the Federal Council of Veterinary Medicine. However, despite the growing interest of professionals for training and of clients for care, there are no studies on the socioeconomic profile of these veterinary acupuncturists in Brazil. The present survey received 295 (complete) replies, the majority of the respondents were 40 years old or less, female (87%) and were from the southeastern region of Brazil. Furthermore, 57% of respondents were at the beginning of their acupuncture careers with less than 5 years of practice. Most respondents chose to be an acupuncturist for personal satisfaction and perceived effectiveness of acupuncture. Experienced acupuncturists received better financial rewards and were more satisfied with their earnings and valued by their clients. Most respondents believe that acupuncture has scientific evidence through experimental and clinical studies. The socioeconomic profile of veterinary acupuncturists is essential to elaborate future action plans and help improve the quality of veterinary professionals.

Spectral Analysis of Heart Rate Variability in Time-Varying Conditions and in the Presence of Confounding Factors.

The tools for spectrally analyzing heart rate variability (HRV) has in recent years grown considerably, with emphasis on the handling of time-varying conditions and confounding factors. Time-frequency analysis holds since long an important position in HRV analysis, however, this technique cannot alone handle a mean heart rate or a respiratory frequency which vary over time. Overlapping frequency bands represents another critical condition which needs to be dealt with to produce accurate spectral measurements. The present survey offers a comprehensive account of techniques designed to handle such conditions and factors by providing a brief description of the main principles of the different methods. Several methods derive from a mathematical/statistical model, suggesting that the model can be used to simulate data used for performance evaluation. The inclusion of a respiratory signal, whether measured or derived, is another feature of many recent methods, e.g., used to guide the decomposition of the HRV signal so that signals related as well as unrelated to respiration can be analyzed. It is concluded that the development of new approaches to handling time-varying scenarios are warranted, as is benchmarking of performance evaluated in technical as well as in physiological/clinical terms.

Review of Electrical methods for Enhancing crude oil Viscosity and Flowability

This review is aimed to explain a comparative survey on the most applicable techniques and methods for increasing the flowability (viscosity reduction) of crude oil since it has defects on transportation, processing, and production due to high power consumption for pumping and corrosion as well as depositing in the pipeline and facilities it is related to the troubles that may occur in processing stream lines in addition to the financial cost associated with transporting crude oil. In this review several techniques have been surveyed including heating, dilution, additives, emulsification, shearing, ultrasonic, and electrical treatment. Based on the present survey electrical methods were reported to be very effective and efficient.

INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF USING MAGNETIC-TYPE NANOFLUID ON THE THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF A SOLAR WATER COLLECTOR WITH HELICALLY COILED TUBE ABSORBER

In recent years, solar water collectors are commonly preferred for supplying heated water to be utilized in various processes. In the present study, a solar water collector equipped with a helically coiled absorbing surface has been manufactured and experimented under various working conditions to determine its general behavior. The main goal of using a helically coiled absorber is enhancing energy harvest in the collector by ensuring vertical angle between the absorbing area and incident radiation. In addition, for providing greater increase in thermal efficiency, magnetic type nanofluid has been used as a working fluid. In this context, NiFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nano-sized particles have been mixed with water at the ratio of 2% (wt./wt.). Accordingly, the performance of the collector has been empirically examined using both water and magnetic nanofluid at two different flow rates. The overall results of the present survey exhibited successful use of magnetic type nanofluid in a solar collector equipped with a helically coiled absorbing surface. Utilizing magnetic nanofluid in the collector as circulating fluid raised the thermal efficiency on an average of 20.29% and 23.59% at volumetric flow rates of 0.5 lpm, and 0.9 lpm, respectively. Moreover, utilizing NiFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/water nanofluid in the water collector enhanced the exergy efficiency on an average of 44.53% and 40.04% at volumetric flow rates of 0.5 lpm and 0.9 lpm, respectively.

St Petersburg school of linear groups. II. Early works by Suslin

The present survey describes the contribution of St Petersburg mathematicians to the theory of linear, classical and algebraic groups. The second part is devoted to the publications by Suslin of the 1970s and the early 1980s, in the areas of classical algebraic K-theory and the theories of linear and classical groups. Also, we describe the general context of these works, state some of the most important results by Suslin himself, and his students, and some of the most closely related follow-ups and subsequent results.

An inventory of potential medicinal plants common in Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts of West Bengal, India to Treat leprosy

Present survey reported 66 species (dicots 56, monocots 9 and pteridophyte 01) of medicinal plants under 63 genera (dicots 55, monocots 7 and pteridophyte 01), 38 families (dicots 30, monocots 7 and pteridophyte 01) from different parts of Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts. In ancient times traditionally drugs were extracted from different parts of the plants like roots, stems, barks, bulbs, seeds, fruits, tubers, wood and as a whole from the all parts of a plant. Besides the above mentioned parts, some drugs are also collected from excretory plant products like gums, seed oil, latex, juice/ plant sap etc. as a novel source of active principles for the preparation of medicine as an antidote for their daily life health care management. Mycobacterium leprae, is a bacteria that causes a chronic disease called Leprosy and consequently damages peripheral nervous system and skin. Present investigation recorded 66 plants bearing medicinally active compounds in their different parts ultimately that can be administered for the treatments of leprosy. The botanical name, Bengali name (s), habit, parts used and mode of applications of these compounds under references are also discussed in this paper.

Semito-Hamitic or Afro-Asiatic consonantism and lexicon: Episodes of a comparative research II: The “old school” of Egypto-Semitic (Part 2: Post-war phase)

My retrospective survey on the past and present trends in the comparative research of Semito-Hamitic / Hamito-Semitic (SH / HS, resp.) or Afro-Asiatic (AA) phonology (first of all consonantism), root structure and lexicon has been segmented into eleven episodes according to diverse (often overlapping in time) trends. This series of studies is now under way and will be presented part by part in a series of papers. The present paper surveys the post-war history (second half of the 20th century) of a rather introverted and fossilized special branch of comparative studies that has been arbitrarily focusing on a forced comparison of just Semitic and Egyptian, which was split off for more than a whole century by now from mainstream Semito-Hamitic studies at the end of the 19th century.

Balance assessment in students with hearing impairment

Balance is the ability to maintain body position when moving or standing still. Therefore, children must have this ability to move correctly. Children with hearing loss have problems in their vestibular system, consequently disturbing their daily activity concerning balance condition. This study aimed to evaluate the balance of students with hearing impairment in Karanganyar, Central Java. The present survey study used the Balance Test to measure 59 (male = 31, female = 28) hearing-impaired students’ balance. Descriptive statistics analysis was used to calculate the mean of all participants and every gender group. The result revealed that the average balance score of all students was 1,136, the highest score was 4, and the lowest was 1. Concerning gender, females performed slightly better than males on the balance test, with scores of 1,143 and 1,129, respectively. Of the 59 students, more than 90% of females and males were categorized as poor, and more than 3% were classified as moderate and very good. The study suggests that the balance score of hearing-impaired students was low.

Targeted mutagenesis of BnTTG1 homologues generated yellow-seeded rapeseed with increased oil content and seed germination under abiotic stress

Yellow seed is one desirable trait with great potential to improve seed oil quality and yield. The present study surveys the redundant role of BnTTG1 genes in the proanthocyanidins (PA) biosynthesis, oil content and abiotic stress resistance. Stable yellow seed mutants were generated after mutating BnTTG1 by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system. Yellow seed phenotype could be obtained only when both functional homologues of BnTTG1 were simultaneously knocked out. Homozygous mutants of BnTTG1 homologues showed decreased thickness and PA accumulation in seed coat. Transcriptome and qRT-PCR analysis indicated that BnTTG1 mutation inhibited the expression of genes involved in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways. Increased seed oil content and alteration of fatty acid (FA) composition were observed in homozygous mutants of BnTTG1 with enriched expression of genes involved in FA biosynthesis pathway. In addition, target mutation of BnTTG1 accelerated seed germination rate under salt and cold stresses. Enhanced seed germination capacity in BnTTG1 mutants was correlated with the change of expression level of ABA responsive genes. Overall, this study elucidated the redundant role of BnTTG1 in regulating seed coat color and established an efficient approach for generating yellow-seeded oilseed rape genetic resources with increase oil content, modified FA composition and resistance to multiple abiotic stresses.

State and Entrepreneurship on the Road to Green Growth in a Post Lignite Era: Friends or Foes?

Green governance is an emerging field, attracting increasing attention from scholars, and governments have been using a range of policy tools to support the transition to green economy, including regulation; financial incentives; voluntary agreements; fiscal measures; public sector procurement; targeting to the deployment of clean energy technologies. Greece has little experience in developing comprehensive long-term energy and climate strategies; thus, it is imperative that governance and analytical underpinning of long-term energy and climate planning be improved, and investment needs and innovative financing instruments for clean energy technologies analysed. To investigate the critical issue of state and entrepreneurship synergies in the framework of the green economy, the present survey employed a web-based questionnaire distributed to 417 small and medium sized enterprises in Western Macedonia from September to December 2021. Data analysis involved an exploratory factor and logistic regression analysis, creating a statistical model with three independent factors describing basic tools of the green economy. The results showed that, in Greece, state environmental governance is often perceived as inadequate, scarce, or constrained by considerations of economic growth. In addition, the research indicates that government policies with regards to environmental law implementation are mainly restricted to the "command and control" regulatory model, which fails to address green innovation and entrepreneurship and promote synergies between the private sector and the State. The analyses demonstrate that if government revenues are heavily reliant on taxes and fines, their capacity to finance structural adjustment programs can be severely affected, and alternative approaches are necessary to achieve the green growth.

Wild Edible Fruits as a Source of Food and Medicine: A Study among Tribal Communities of Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Botanical surveys in all parts of Pakistan are mainly focused on ethnomedicinal uses of plants, and very little attention has been paid to documenting edible wild fruit species (EWFs). Multiple methodologies and tools were used for data collection. In a recent survey 74 EWF species belonging to 29 families were documented, including their medicinal uses for the treatment of various diseases. The most cited (23%) preparation method was raw, fresh parts. The UV and RFC of EWF species ranged from 0.08 to 0.4 and from 0.02 to 0.18, respectively. In terms of specific disease treatments and their consensus, the ICF ranged from 0 to 0.38. Sexual, gastrointestinal, and respiratory disorders had the highest use reports, and 11 species of plants had the highest FL of 100%. On the basis of uses reported by the inhabitants of seven districts of Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, the CSI ranged from the lowest 1.3 to the highest 41. It is concluded that the traditional uses of EWF species depend mainly on socio-economic factors rather than climatic conditions or the number of species. However, there is a gradual loss of traditional knowledge among the younger generations. The present survey is the first baseline study about the socio-economic dimension of local communities regarding the use of EWF species for food as well as medicine.

Cadmium, manganese, mercury and lead in the general adult population of Kinshasa, DR Congo

Background and Aim. Many metals are of health concern due to their toxic proprieties and health impairments in the human body. To evaluate values for the internal exposure in the general population, the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), recommend the use of reference intervals (RIs) of metals as an indicator of the background exposures. This work aimed to derive RIs for Cd, Hg, Mn and Pb in the blood and urine of the adult population living in Kinshasa (n = 396, aged 18–70 years with 210 females). Methods. Levels of metals were measured using Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results. In blood, the proposed RIs [P5-P95 (GM)] were 0.089–2.365 µg/L (0.262), 41.41–199.20 µg/L (84.43), 0.100–1.964 µg/L (0.450) and 6.014–15.380 µg/L (9.394) for Cd, Pb, Hg and Mn, respectively. Urinary levels [(P5-P95 (GM)] were 0.142–1.430 µg/L (0.458) for Cd, 1.910–17.840 µg/L (5.424) for Pb, 0.349–2.295 µg/L (0.816) for Hg and 0.063–1.340 µg/L (0.188) for Mn. Conclusion. Except for Pb, levels of all metals were significantly lower than those found in the same city in 2012 and similar to databases involving non-occupationally exposed populations from other countries, probably due to exclusion criteria of metal exposure applying in the present survey (occupationally exposed to the studied metals, smoking habits, amalgam tooth fillings, fish consumption habit more than one time per week, etc.). These background metal exposures will be useful for future occupational and/or environmental surveys as well as undertaking a reliable regulation of chemical exposure in Kinshasa via a national HBM program.

Physical laboratory for students practical laboratory works of The Imperial Moscow University from the moment of foundation until 1917

The present survey, timed to a century and a half anniversary of practical laboratory works in Physics being introduced in the curriculum of The Imperial University of Moscow for the students of the Faculty of Physics, provides a broad coverage of its functioning in the period from 1873 to 1917. The author gives a brief overview of the history of its founding, includes the data concerning the development of its equipment infrastructure, stuffing and figures about the number of students who took physics labs in those years. The contents of practical laboratory works are being analysed. The author vividly shows that professor A. P. Sokolov’s “Guide to exercises in general physics labs of Physical Institute of The Imperial University of Moscow” relies heavily on “Guide to Practical Classes in Physics” by F. Kohlrausch. The author familiarizes the readers with some historical references, which enable to better enhance the readers’ understanding of the details of practical training of physics students in The Imperial University of Moscow at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. The article also contains rare historical pictures, some of which are published for the first time.

Sero-prevalence and Risk Factors Study of Foot and Mouth Disease and Farmers Perception on Vaccinating Cattle against the Disease in Sidama Region, South Ethiopia

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact. A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2019 to June 2020 in three selected districts of Sidama region, southern Ethiopia with the objectives of determining the sero-prevalence of cattle against foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV), identifying potential risk factors and assessing farmers' perception on vaccination against FMD. Purposive and systematic random sampling techniques were employed to select the districts and study animals, respectively. A total of 510 cattle were tested for FMDV antibodies using 3ABC-ELISA. The overall cattle and herd level sero-prevalence were 15.5% and 24.7%, respectively. Among the considered risk factors age, herd size, and season were significantly associated with the sero-positivity of FMDV (P<0.05). Out of 120 farmers interviewed84.2% had never vaccinated their cattle against FMDV. Inaccessibility (83.7%) and unaffordable cost (72.1%) of the vaccine were mentioned as leading causes for the low vaccination practice in the current study areas. Majority of the respondents (68.3%) don’t perceive vaccinating cattle against FMDV as one of the preventive measures. In districts with lower perception of farmers on vaccinating their cattle against FMDV, higher sero-prevalence of the disease were recorded. The present serological and questionnaire survey indicated that the presence of FMD sero-positive animals in the current study area. Therefore, an integrated strategy for disease control has to be designed and implemented which could include enhancing farmers’ perception about the use of vaccination in preventing FMD and government provision of vaccines at an affordable cost to the farmers.

Logical extensions of the parametric closure operator

Abstract In the present survey, we consider all logical extensions of the parametric closure operator. Such extensions are obtained by augmenting the parametric closure language with arbitrary logical connectives or the universal quantifier. This gives, in addition to the parametric closure operator, the operators of positive and implicative closure, and also the closure operator with complete system of logical connectives, and the conjunctive-quantifier closure operator. We present basic facts on classifications of the sets Pk generated by these operators.

Prevention of venous thromboembolism in right heart-sided electrophysiological procedures: results of an European Heart Rhythm Association survey.

Limited data are available regarding venous thromboembolism (VTE), specifically deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), following right-sided ablations and electrophysiological (EP) studies. Compared to left-sided procedures, no guidelines on antithrombotic management strategies for the prevention of DVT and PE are available. The main purpose of the present European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) survey is to report the current management of right-sided EP procedures, focusing on anticoagulation and prevention of VTE. An online survey was conducted using the EHRA infrastructure. A total of 244 participants answered a 19-items questionnaire on the periprocedural management of EP studies and right-sided catheter ablations. The right femoral vein is the most common access for EP studies and right-sided procedures. An ultrasound-guided approach is employed by more than 2/3 of respondents. Intravenous heparin is not commonly given by the majority of participants. About 1/3 of participants (34%) routinely prescribe VTE prophylaxis during (mostly aspirin and low molecular weight heparin) and 1/4 of respondents (25%) commonly prescribe VTE prophylaxis after discharge (mostly aspirin). Of note, respectively 13% and 9% of participants observed at least one DVT and one PE related to right-sided ablation or EP study within the last year in their center. The present survey shows that only a minority of operators routinely gives intraprocedural intravenous heparin and prescribes VTE prophylaxis after right-sided EP procedures. Compared to left-sided procedures like atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, there are no consistent systematic antithrombotic management strategies.