Recent Deforestation Pattern Changes (2000-2017) in the Central Carpathians:A Gray-Level Co-Occurrence Matrix and Fractal Analysis Approach

The paper explores the distribution of tree cover and deforested areas in the Central Carpathians in the central-east part of Romania, in the context of the anthropogenic forest disturbances and sustainable forest management. The study aims to evaluate the spatiotemporal changes in deforested areas due to human pressure in the Carpathian Mountains, a sensitive biodiverse European ecosystem. We used an analysis of satellite imagery with Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (Landsat-7 ETM+) from the University of Maryland (UMD) Global Forest Change (GFC) dataset. The workflow started with the determination of tree cover and deforested areas from 2000–2017, with an overall accuracy of 97%. For the monitoring of forest dynamics, a Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix analysis (Entropy) and fractal analysis (Fractal Fragmentation-Compaction Index and Tug-of-War Lacunarity) were utilized. The increased fragmentation of tree cover (annually 2000–2017) was demonstrated by the highest values of the Fractal Fragmentation-Compaction Index, a measure of the degree of disorder (Entropy) and heterogeneity (Lacunarity). The principal outcome of the research reveals the dynamics of disturbance of tree cover and deforested areas expressed by the textural and fractal analysis. The results obtained can be used in the future development and adaptation of forestry management policies to ensure sustainable management of exploited forest areas

Kolmogorov compression complexity may differentiate different schools of Orthodox iconography

The complexity in the styles of 1200 Byzantine icons painted between 13th and 16th from Greece, Russia and Romania was investigated through the Kolmogorov algorithmic information theory. The aim was to identify specific quantitative patterns which define the key characteristics of the three different painting schools. Our novel approach using the artificial surface images generated with Inverse FFT and the Midpoint Displacement (MD) algorithms, was validated by comparison of results with eight fractal and non-fractal indices. From the analyzes performed, normalized Kolmogorov compression complexity (KC) proved to be the best solution because it had the best complexity pattern differentiations, is not sensitive to the image size and the least affected by noise. We conclude that normalized KC methodology does offer capability to differentiate the icons within a School and amongst the three Schools

Distance learning in higher education during COVID-19 : The role of basic psychological needs and intrinsic motivation for persistence and procrastination–a multi-country study

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, higher educational institutions worldwide switched to emergency distance learning in early 2020. The less structured environment of distance learning forced students to regulate their learning and motivation more independently. According to self-determination theory (SDT), satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence and social relatedness affects intrinsic motivation, which in turn relates to more active or passive learning behavior. As the social context plays a major role for basic need satisfaction, distance learning may impair basic need satisfaction and thus intrinsic motivation and learning behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between basic need satisfaction and procrastination and persistence in the context of emergency distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in a cross-sectional study. We also investigated the mediating role of intrinsic motivation in this relationship. Furthermore, to test the universal importance of SDT for intrinsic motivation and learning behavior under these circumstances in different countries, we collected data in Europe, Asia and North America. A total of N = 15,462 participants from Albania, Austria, China, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Kosovo, Lithuania, Poland, Malta, North Macedonia, Romania, Sweden, and the US answered questions regarding perceived competence, autonomy, social relatedness, intrinsic motivation, procrastination, persistence, and sociodemographic background. Our results support SDT’s claim of universality regarding the relation between basic psychological need fulfilment, intrinsic motivation, procrastination, and persistence. However, whereas perceived competence had the highest direct effect on procrastination and persistence, social relatedness was mainly influential via intrinsic motivation.Peer reviewe

The effect of improvisational music therapy on the treatment of depression: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background. Music therapy is frequently offered to individuals suffering from depression. Despite the lack of research into the effects of music therapy on this population, anecdotal evidence suggests that the results are rather promising. The aim of this study is to examine whether improvisational, psychodynamically orientated music therapy in an individual setting helps reduce symptoms of depression and improve other health-related outcomes. In particular, attention will be given to mediator agents, such as musical expression and interaction in the sessions, as well as to the explanatory potential of EEG recordings in investigating emotion related music perception of individuals with depression. Methods. 85 adults (18–50 years of age) with depression (ICD-10: F 32 or F33) will be randomly assigned to an experimental or a control condition. All participants will receive standard care, but the experimental group will be offered biweekly sessions of improvisational music therapy over a period of 3 months. A blind assessor will measure outcomes before testing, after 3 months, and after 6 months. Discussion. This study aims to fill a gap in knowledge as to whether active (improvisational) music therapy applied to people with depression improves their condition. For the first time in this context, the mediating processes, such as changes in musical expression and interaction during the course of therapy, will be objectively investigated, and it is expected that the results will provide new insights into these processes. Furthermore, the findings are expected to reveal whether music related emotional experiences, as measured by EEG, can be utilized in assessing a depressive client's improvement in the therapy. The size and the comprehensiveness of the study are sufficient for generalizing its findings to clinical practice as well as to further music therapy research. Trial registration. ISRCTN84185937peerReviewe

Distance learning in higher education during COVID-19: The role of basic psychological needs and intrinsic motivation for persistence and procrastination–a multi-country study

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, higher educational institutions worldwide switched to emergency distance learning in early 2020. The less structured environment of distance learning forced students to regulate their learning and motivation more independently. According to self-determination theory (SDT), satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence and social relatedness affects intrinsic motivation, which in turn relates to more active or passive learning behavior. As the social context plays a major role for basic need satisfaction, distance learning may impair basic need satisfaction and thus intrinsic motivation and learning behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between basic need satisfaction and procrastination and persistence in the context of emergency distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in a cross-sectional study. We also investigated the mediating role of intrinsic motivation in this relationship. Furthermore, to test the universal importance of SDT for intrinsic motivation and learning behavior under these circumstances in different countries, we collected data in Europe, Asia and North America. A total of N = 15,462 participants from Albania, Austria, China, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Kosovo, Lithuania, Poland, Malta, North Macedonia, Romania, Sweden, and the US answered questions regarding perceived competence, autonomy, social relatedness, intrinsic motivation, procrastination, persistence, and sociodemographic background. Our results support SDT’s claim of universality regarding the relation between basic psychological need fulfilment, intrinsic motivation, procrastination, and persistence. However, whereas perceived competence had the highest direct effect on procrastination and persistence, social relatedness was mainly influential via intrinsic motivation.</p

Heat transfer of supercritical CO2 shown at an example in the cement industry

Zusammenfassung in englischer SpracheAbweichender Titel nach Übersetzung der Verfasserin/des VerfassersKohlenstoffdioxid ist ein Gas, welches in der heutigen Zeit oft nur als schädliches und ungewolltes Treibhausgas abgestempelt wird. In dieser Arbeit wird ein Prozess betrachtet, in welchem man CO2 als Arbeitsmedium zur Stromerzeugung benutzt. Diese interessante Verwendung von CO2 hat viel Zukunftspotenzial, denn die physikalischen Eigenschaften des CO2 können zu einer sicheren und thermoökonomischen Energieerzeugung beitragen. Als Berechnungsgrundlage wurden die Daten eines Zementwerkes herangezogen. Dabei wird ein ORC-Prozess mit einem CO2 Kreislauf verglichen. Der CO2 Kreislauf scheint dem ORC-Prozess unterlegen, da die CO2 Verdichterleistung hoch ist und den Wirkungsgrad dramatisch beeinflusst. Trotzdem könnten, bei näherer Betrachtung, die hohe Betriebssicherheit des CO2-Kreislaufes und der Verzicht auf Zwischenkreisläufe bzw. auf die teuren Wärmeübertragungsmedien eines ORC-Kreislaufes, einen ökonomischen Vorteil liefern. Bei der Auslegung von Wärmetauschern für CO2 ist auf die sich stark ändernden physikalischen Eigenschaften um den kritischen Punkt zu achten. Um Abhilfe zu schaffen wurde ein Programm geschrieben, welches den Wärmetauscher in Bereiche unterteilt und für jeden Bereich die benötigte Wärmetauscherfläche berechnet. So kann es vorkommen, dass die so berechneten Flächen signifikant geringer sind als die, die man mit Hilfe des VDI Wärmeatlas ermittelt. Um die schwankende Wärmekapazität von CO2 um den kritischen Punkt zu veranschaulichen wurde noch ein Schema für einen Laborversuch erarbeitet, um so diese Thematik Studenten und anderen Interessierten näher zu bringen.These days Carbondioxide is a gas that is often labelled as a harmful and unwanted greenhouse gas. In this work, a process is considered, in which CO2 is used as the working fluid to generate electricity. This interesting use of CO2 has a lot of potential for the future, because the physical properties of CO2 may contribute to a safe and thermo-economic power generation. Data of a cement plant were taken as a basis for calculation. An ORC process is compared with a CO2 cycle. The ORC process seems to be better than a CO2 cycle because the CO2 compressor power is extremely high and affects the efficiency of the cycle dramatically. Nevertheless the high reliability of the CO2 cycle, the missing of intermediate cycles and the missing of expensive heat transfer fluids of an ORC cycle, provide an economic advantage for the CO2 cycle. The design of heat exchangers for CO2 is influenced by the widely varying physical properties around the critical point. So a program was written, which divides the heat exchanger into smaller parts and the required heat exchange area for every part gets calculated. So it may happen that the calculated areas are significantly lower than that one which is calculated using the VDI Heat Atlas. To illustrate the fluctuating heat capacity of CO2 around the critical point, a scheme for a laboratory experiment has been established. This experiment is designed to bring this subject closer to students and others, who are interested to it.5

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) rapidly suppresses apoptosis by acting upstream of the activation of caspases

The physiological role of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family of peptides has recently been extended by emerging evidence of their cytoprotective effects. To determine whether CRF-mediated cytoprotection is linked to caspase-dependent apoptosis, the effect of CRF on the activation of caspases was investigated in detail in Y79 human retinoblastoma cells. The results presented here demonstrate that the cytoprotective effect of CRF against the actions of camptothecin (CT) was mediated by CRF receptor subtype 1, but not subtype 2. The observed CRF-mediated cytoprotection involved rapid and pronounced suppression of proteolytic processing and activation of procaspase-3, exerted even when CRF was added hours after the application of the cytotoxic agent. Surprisingly, activation of procaspase-3 preceded activation of the initiator procaspases 2, 8, 9 and 10 during CT-induced apoptosis of Y79 cells. The mechanism of the effect of CRF was examined using inhibitors of signalling pathways such as Wortmannin (Akt), cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), protein kinase c (PKC), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), phospholipase c (PLC), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). The involvement of PKA in the mediation of the anti-apoptotic effect of CRF has been established. Taken together, these results demonstrate for the first time that the cytoprotective effect of CRF involved suppression of pro- apoptotic pathways at a site upstream of activation of procaspase-3

MRI Radiomics data of LARC patients who responded well and poorly to nCRT-Manuscript: Performance and Dimensionality of Pretreatment MRI Radiomics in Prediction of Rectal Carcinoma Response to Chemoradiotherapy

This is a complete dataset from a study aimed to establish a predictive model for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) response in patients with locally advanced rectal carcinoma (LARC) using clinicopathological and radiomics features from pretreatment MRI 3D T2W contrast sequence scans. This dataset contains the outcome defined as cCR, TRG1, TRG2, TRG3 and TRG4, five clinicopathological and MRI parameters which significantly associated with the outcome and all of the computed 2144 radiomics features. All this data is available for 71 patients without any missing values. All data is z-score normalized