Confirmation of the presence of steppe polecat Mustela eversmanii (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in Giurgiu County (Romania) after more than 5 decades

This paper confirms the presence of steppe polecat Mustela eversmanii in Giurgiu County after more than 50 years. Mustela eversmanii is considered a vulnerable species, being listed in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive. The specimen was found within the Site of Community Importance - ROSCI0043 Comana, included in the Natura 2000 network, which significantly overlaps with the protected natural area (Comana Natural Park). Currently, the steppe polecat is not added to the list of the Standard Form, because its presence was uncertain. We consider that this discovery is valuable and has important implications for the conservation of the species.

The q-analogue of the Higgs algebra

In this paper, the q-generalization of the Higgs algebra is considered. The realization of this algebra is shown in an explicit form using a nonlinear transformation of the creation-annihilation operators of the q-harmonic oscillator. This transformation is the performance of two operations, namely, a “correction” using a function of the original Hamiltonian, and raising to the fourth power the creation and annihilation operators of a q-harmonic oscillator. The choice of the “correcting” function is justified by the standard form of commutation relations for the operators of the metaplectic realization Uq(SU(1,1)). Further possible directions of research are briefly discussed to summarize the results obtained. The first direction is quite obvious. It is the consideration of the problem when the dimension of the operator space increases or for any value N. The second direction can be associated with the analysis of the relationship between q-generalizations of the Higgs and Hahn algebras.

The visualization of a graph semantics of imperative languages

This work aims to present the software support for teaching in the field of formal semantics of imperative programming languages. The main part focuses on a software tool that provides a visual representation of the individual steps of the calculation in categorical semantics, which can also be referred to as graph semantics. The use of software tools in teaching to visually represent computational steps considerably facilitates understanding by students and can also serve as a good basis for supporting distance learning. Our program works in the standard form: after reading the correct user input, a visual representation of the meaning of the program is generated in the form of a category of states, which is displayed as an oriented graph. For better extensibility, the program is implemented as a web application.

Swarm Intelligence Procedures Using Meyer Wavelets as a Neural Network for the Novel Fractional Order Pantograph Singular System

The purpose of the current investigation is to find the numerical solutions of the novel fractional order pantograph singular system (FOPSS) using the applications of Meyer wavelets as a neural network. The FOPSS is presented using the standard form of the Lane–Emden equation and the detailed discussions of the singularity, shape factor terms along with the fractional order forms. The numerical discussions of the FOPSS are described based on the fractional Meyer wavelets (FMWs) as a neural network (NN) with the optimization procedures of global/local search procedures of particle swarm optimization (PSO) and interior-point algorithm (IPA), i.e., FMWs-NN-PSOIPA. The FMWs-NN strength is pragmatic and forms a merit function based on the differential system and the initial conditions of the FOPSS. The merit function is optimized, using the integrated capability of PSOIPA. The perfection, verification and substantiation of the FOPSS using the FMWs is pragmatic for three cases through relative investigations from the true results in terms of stability and convergence. Additionally, the statics’ descriptions further authorize the presentation of the FMWs-NN-PSOIPA in terms of reliability and accuracy.

Bidirectional synaptic plasticity rapidly modifies hippocampal representations

Learning requires neural adaptations thought to be mediated by activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. A relatively non-standard form of synaptic plasticity driven by dendritic calcium spikes, or plateau potentials, has been reported to underlie place field formation in rodent hippocampal CA1 neurons. Here we found that this behavioral timescale synaptic plasticity (BTSP) can also reshape existing place fields via bidirectional synaptic weight changes that depend on the temporal proximity of plateau potentials to pre-existing place fields. When evoked near an existing place field, plateau potentials induced less synaptic potentiation and more depression, suggesting BTSP might depend inversely on postsynaptic activation. However, manipulations of place cell membrane potential and computational modeling indicated that this anti-correlation actually results from a dependence on current synaptic weight such that weak inputs potentiate and strong inputs depress. A network model implementing this bidirectional synaptic learning rule suggested that BTSP enables population activity, rather than pairwise neuronal correlations, to drive neural adaptations to experience.

Working at home and outside: Working conditions and non-working hours

In the presence of anti-epidemic restrictions, telework has become widespread around the world. This trend has provoked numerous debates on how efficient and convenient work from home is compared to that performed on special premises. However, work from home is not the only non-standard form of work activity. This study explores different types of workplace — locations and premises where workers perform their duties. Empirical analysis exploits microdata from “The time use survey” conducted by the Russian Statistical Agency in 2019. The survey identifies six types of work: on standard premises (offices or shop-floors), telework, homebased work, work performed in special facility (like kiosks, pavilions, gas filling stations, garages, etc.), in open air facilities (like construction sites or agricultural fields), or transportation/delivery services. These types of workplace differ in terms of employment and working conditions, work safety and commuting time, potentially contributing to social stratification. Thus, heterogeneity in “workplaces” contributes to social stratification, affects distribution of economic benefits and health risks and can be an additional measure of labor market inequality.

Working at home and outside: Working conditions and non-working hours

In the presence of anti-epidemic restrictions, telework has become widespread around the world. This trend has provoked numerous debates on how efficient and convenient work from home is compared to that performed on special premises. However, work from home is not the only non-standard form of work activity. This study explores different types of workplace — locations and premises where workers perform their duties. Empirical analysis exploits microdata from “The time use survey” conducted by the Russian Statistical Agency in 2019. The survey identifies six types of work: on standard premises (offices or shop-floors), telework, homebased work, work performed in special facility (like kiosks, pavilions, gas filling stations, garages, etc.), in open air facilities (like construction sites or agricultural fields), or transportation/delivery services. These types of workplace differ in terms of employment and working conditions, work safety and commuting time, potentially contributing to social stratification. Thus, heterogeneity in “workplaces” contributes to social stratification, affects distribution of economic benefits and health risks and can be an additional measure of labor market inequality.

LANGUAGE AS A MIRROR OF ETHNIC MENTALITY: YES AND NO (several language phenomena)

At the background of increased attention towards a psychological interpretation of content-based linguistic phenomena, aiming to relate them to the mentality of different peoples, the article calls on to avoid positing the direct, proximate dependence of language features on those of ethnic mentality. Along with the search in this direction, one should also bear in their mind the possible effects of general mental activities of people (regardless of their ethnicity), of the general structural specificity of the language at its various levels, as well as particular features of formation and development of the literary (standard) form of the national language. The material for a more specific analysis were some phenomena of the Ukrainian language that arouse great interest what concerns the features of Ukrainian mentality being [allegedly] mirrored in them: diminutives with hypocoristic connotations, the category of passive voice, “positivity” of Ukrainian vocabulary inner form, abundance of Ukrainian synonyms.

VULNERABILITY AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOR AMONG MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN WITH POSITIVE RAPID TESTING FOR SYPHILIS: A DOCUMENTARY STUDY

Introduction: Syphilis has a high prevalence in the population of men who have sex with men and, as a sexually transmitted infection, is extremely associated with acquired immunodeficiency virus infection. Objective: To investigate the factors related to vulnerability, behavior, and sexual practice among men who have sex with men with rapid testing for syphilis. Outline: This is a documentary study, approved with registration no. 963,805, conducted from January to July 2015. It presents data from medical records of men who have sex with men, diagnosed with syphilis between 2013 and 2014. A standard form was used as a data source. Results: Among the 137 medical records, (61.3%) are single, (26.3%) with 12 years of schooling or more. A majority (80%) of the population that acquired infection continued the exposure through sexual intercourse and claimed to know the service through friends/professionals of the service, (88.6%) said that their partners had an infection, and (29.2%) declared using condoms. Implications: The data reinforce the need for disease control actions, as well as the dialogue with health policies, as the risks and vulnerable behaviors presented are the same as described in other studies.Descriptors: Vulnerability in Health; Treponema infections; Male Homosexuality; Sexual Behavior.

Diskursus Khilafah dalam Kajian Fiqh Siyasah Klasik dan Kontemporer

Until now, the Muslim community in Indonesia is flooded with massive information about the discourse of the obligation to establish a caliphate. Some argue that establishing a caliphate is an obligation for all Muslims. This article discusses the caliphate discourse in the study of fiqh al-siyasa in the classical era and the contemporary era. The discourse on the caliphate in the contemporary era has warmed up after the collapse of the Ottoman Turks in 1924, the debate on theme of the caliphate in the contemporary era is about whether there is a standard form of government and Islam, the legal status of establishing a caliphate, and so on. This theme is different from the themes of the discussion of the caliphate in the classical era, in this era, themes the caliphate revolved around aspects of Islamic leadership values, such as procedures for choosing a caliph/leader, political ethics that must be held by leaders and other state officials.