bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of quality traits, and the nutrient and mineral contents of cowpea varieties in South Africa
Authors:   University of Limpopo, Asiwe JNA
Published: July 2022

Eastern Cape, followed by Limpopo, have the highest numbers of citizens experiencing food insecurity. The Limpopo and Free State provinces share the highest prevalence rate of children affected by iron deficiency anaemia leading to severe stunting and underweight. Cowpea is an important grain legume that is rich in proteins (20-24%), minerals and vitamins for human and animal nutrition. Cowpea stands to enhance food security and nutrition in rural South African communities. Introduction of cowpea varieties that are rich in proteins, minerals and vitamins will improve the quality of the dietary intakes and nutritional status of the poor. To fast-track the development of improved cowpea varieties that meet the nutritional needs of consumers and farmers, thirty cowpea improved varieties were introduced and evaluated to determine their qualities and the nutrients they contain. This will assist breeders in ascertaining their usefulness and how to deploy the traits in breeding programmes. The seeds were harvested from seed multiplication plots during 2017 growing season, and were analysed in three replications to determine their nutrient and mineral contents (crude protein or CP, Ca, Na, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, P, K and moisture). The mineral contents were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer while CP content was determined by the Kjeldahl method using Kjeltec™ Model 2300, as described in Foss Analytical AB manual. Results showed that the varieties exhibited significant (P<0.05) variations for the nutrients and minerals determined except for P and moisture. Eight varieties out-performed the two local control varieties (Glenda and Bechuana White with 24% and 20% respectively) in CP with a range of 25-31%. Many varieties also significantly out-performed the local checks in respect of minerals tested: 4, 12, 6, 5, 14, and 15 varieties exhibited higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Cu and Fe, respectively. Results also show that the quality of grains varied in terms of seed colour, texture, and eye colour. The results not only demonstrate that many of the improved varieties were better than the control varieties, but have also provided a database for utilising the promising varieties in breeding programme for the development of new cowpea germplasm with better quality traits and nutrient contents. Variation in seed qualities offers opportunities for farmers and consumers to make choice as these quality traits influence acceptability and marketability of cowpea in South Africa. Key words: Bechuana White, bio-fortification, dietary intake, food security, marketability nutrition, protein content, Vigna unguiculata
Assessment of nutrition knowledge and sources of nutrition information among middle- and long-distance elite athletes in North Rift region of Kenya
Authors:   Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kathure DM , Bukhala PW , Konyole SO
Published: July 2022

Diet influences athletes performance while the foods chosen in training and competition determines how well competitors prepare and compete. Competitors should know about their nourishing objectives and how they can choose an eating technique to meet those objectives. However, there exists paucity of literature expounding on that. Many athletes have limited knowledge on matters of nutrition, and their nutrition practices do not conform to athletes' requirements. The sources of nutrition information among this group are also conflicting. The purpose of this study was to assess the nutrition knowledge and sources of nutrition knowledge among middle (800m-2500km) and long-distance (≤3000km) elite athletes in North Rift Kenya. Using already trained research assistants, a total of 30 athletic camps in Uasin Gishu and Nandi counties were visited allowing a return of 374 questionnaires. Majority of the respondents were males at 74%, results on age revealed that 47 % were between 22-28 years old and most elite athletes (55%) had an experience of 3 years and below. About 62% participated in long-distance running and 72% had attained secondary school level of education. From the nutrition knowledge scores generated, most of the athletes had adequate nutrition knowledge (above 50 %). With regard to specific questions, 51.9% had no knowledge that iron supplements should only be taken when one has iron deficiency. About three quarters (75.4%) had the right knowledge that athletes should not train on an empty stomach. The internet was the major source of nutrition knowledge information and nutritionists were least consulted on matters sports nutrition. There were no differences in knowledge among the athletes at different age groups (p =.510). Therefore, it is recommended that nutrition professionals be incorporated as part of technical team so as to ensure increased awareness among the athletes. Key words: Knowledge, Performance, Sports, Nutrition, Elite, Middle and Long Distance Athlete
A Prospective Study of Employee Response to Bullying in a Workplace Environment: Does Assertiveness Actually Help or Hurt?
Authors: Gamian-Wilk Malgorzata , Lewandowska Malgorzata , Sędkowska Dominika , Staniszewska Amanda , Stapinski Piotr , Zielony-Koryczan Ewa , Madeja-Bien Kamila
Published: July 2022

The aim of the present two-wave prospective study was twofold: (1) to identify the role of assertiveness in exposure to workplace bullying and (2) to determine causal and reverse causal long-term associations between workplace bullying exposure, working conditions and assertiveness. In the present two-wave panel design study (N = 128), with a six-month lag, high assertiveness predicted exposure to bullying. Furthermore, in line with the work environment hypothesis, the results indicate that negative workplace conditions in the first wave led to workplace bullying exposure. The findings suggest that assertive communication may be inappropriate in the case of workplace bullying. As such, we argue that functional assertiveness could be useful.
Effet de la Profondeur de Semis des Semences sur la Qualité Germinative des Graines de Pterocarpus Erinaceus Poir., 1804 (Fabaceae)
Authors: Patrice Houphouet Yao , Henri Kouassi Kouadio , Innocent Adji Beda , Sélastique Akaffou Doffou , Jerôme Duminil , Annabel Sabatier Sylvie
Published: July 2022

Pterocarpus erinaceus est une espèce largement utilisée par les populations des zones sahéliennes et soudaniennes. Cependant, cette espèce est menacée par l’exploitation abusive des peuplements naturels. La présente étude vise à déterminer un idéotype de profondeur de semis des graines de Pterocarpus erinaceus pour relever le taux de germination de production des plantules dans le cadre de sa régénération. Pour ce faire, les graines ont été décortiquées et enfouies à différentes profondeurs (0,5 cm, 1 cm, 1,5 cm) sans traitement spécifique. L’évaluation de la vigueur des plantules a été basée sur des paramètres morphologiques qui sont : la hauteur (Ht), le diamètre au collet (Dcol), le nombre de feuille (Nf), la longueur des feuilles (Logfe) et la largeur des feuilles (Largfe). Les résultats ont montré que les meilleurs taux de germination (90,66 %) sont obtenus avec les semis enfouis à 0,5 cm du sol. Les faibles taux (41 %) de germinations ont été obtenus avec les semences enfouies à 1,5 cm. Cette expérimentation dénote que le semis superficiel des graines de Pterocarpus erinaceus est recommandé pour sa multiplication.
Las políticas institucionales de una universidad colombiana para los estudiantes pertenecientes a comunidades indígenas
Authors: Sánchez Isabel , Peña Angie Daniela , Puerta Natalia Eugenia
Published: July 2022

En este trabajo se describen y analizan las políticas institucionales de una universidad pública en relación con las necesidades culturales, sociales y lingüísticas de los estudiantes indígenas de esta institución. Se partió de un enfoque cualitativo enmarcado en el estudio de caso descriptivo, el cual permitió la exploración del caso en su contexto real, a través del análisis documental y entrevistas semiestructuradas como herramientas de recolección de la información. La muestra del estudio fue intencional. Participaron dos estudiantes indígenas con representación gubernamental del Cabildo Indígena Universitario. Como resultado se encontró una brecha significativa entre las políticas lingüísticas de la institución, de ingreso, egreso y regreso al territorio, y las condiciones culturales, sociales y lingüísticas evidenciadas por los mismos estudiantes indígenas en sus experiencias y características identitarias. Se concluye que se requiere un proceso de inclusión socioeducativo real, que incorpore la planificación, creacióne implementación de políticas institucionales que tengan en cuenta las necesidades y características de toda su población desde su ingreso a la universidad, especialmente las de los estudiantes indígenas como población minoritaria.
Traducción automática de un conjunto de entrenamiento para extracción semántica de relaciones
Authors: Peña Torres Jefferson A. , Bucheli Victor , Gutiérrez de Piñerez Reyes Raúl
Published: July 2022

La traducción automática (TA) se utiliza para obtener corpus anotados a partir de corpus provenientes del idioma inglés, los cuales pueden ser aplicables a diferentes tareas de procesamiento de lenguaje natural (PLN). Teniendo en cuenta que existen más recursos o conjuntos de datos para entrenamiento de modelos de PLN en idioma inglés, en este trabajo se explora la aplicación de la TA para automatizar tareas de PLN en el idioma español. De esta forma, en el artículo se describe un conjunto dedatos para la extracción de relaciones genéricas (reACE) y la construcción de un modelo extracción semántica de relaciones en español (ER), basado en el conjunto de muestras traducidas del idioma inglés al español. Los resultados muestran que para la tarea de TA es necesario implementar un proceso de preedición del corpus en inglés, con el fin de evitar errores de traducción, posedición y mantener las anotaciones del corpus original. Los modelos ER en español alcanzan medidas de precisión,exhaustividad y valor-F comparables con las obtenidas por el modelo en el lenguaje de inglés, lo que sugiere que la traducción automática es una herramienta útil pararealizar tareas de PLN en el idioma español
Percepción del clima laboral de mujeres limeñas recién egresadas que laboran en el rubro STEM
Authors:   , r Ravines Toledo Maricel Perlalucia
Published: July 2022

Este estudio describe la percepción del clima laboral de mujeres limeñas recién egresadas de la universidad, con una experiencia laboral de nueve y doce meses en el rubro STEM (ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas). El estudio del clima laboral es importante en el desarrollo de los trabajadores, ya que es el modo en que estos perciben su contexto laboral. Este clima está formado por sentimientos positivos o negativos, acciones de la empresa y por la interacción entre el personal. El estudio se realizó bajo un enfoque cualitativo que involucra la herramienta de entrevistas semiestructuradas, a profundidad, a quince mujeres recién egresadas de la universidad que están empezando su vida laboral. Las quince participantes indicaron que se han enfrentado a filtros de género, desvaloración de su talento y acoso sexual laboral, todo lo cual ha afectado su clima de trabajo. Existe, entonces, un clima de desprotección en el que no hay igualdad de oportunidades laborales y se subestima la capacidad intelectual femenina. Este clima laboral negativo podría ser un riesgo para la retención y atracción de talento calificado.
Value Chain Governance: Entrance Points for Interventions to Address Children’s Harmful Work in Agriculture
Authors: Ton Giel , Thorpe Jodie , Egyir Irene S. , Szyp Carolina
Published: July 2022

This paper presents different types of governance mechanisms that can be present in a specific value chain and explores how these can be used or need to be modified in view of intentions to reduce children’s harmful work. We primarily look at the way that the unobservable process-related quality attributes of a product are currently governed and discussed. We identify interactions/ coordination processes that we feel are relevant for ACHA and likely entrance points for interventions.
Policies and Politics Around Children’s Work in Ghana
Authors: Okyere Samuel , Frimpong Boamah Emmanuel , Asante Felix , Yeboah Thomas
Published: July 2022

This paper explores policy and legislation aimed at preventing, regulating, and abolishing harmful children’s work in Ghana, and the political debates and controversies surrounding these mechanisms. The paper critically interrogates the successes and challenges of previous and current policies and interventions. It concludes that legislation and interventions aimed at preventing hazardous or harmful work should incorporate both the formal legislative rights discourse and the informal, traditional rights discourse to successfully navigate the political terrain, thereby accelerating attainment of common objectives.
Penguatan Kerjasama ASEAN Plus Three (APT) untuk Penanganan dan Mitigasi Dampak Negatif Ekonomi dari Pandemi Covid-19
Authors: Febreani Yang Kharisma
Published: July 2022

This study will discuss efforts to strengthen ASEAN Plus Three (APT) cooperation in dealing with the mitigation of negative economic impacts resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic which will be explained using the concept of Economic Regionalism. The scope of this research is limited to the policies carried out by ASEAN Plus Three (APT) to help maintain economic and financial stability, as well as new breakthroughs in the digital economy in the Southeast Asia region. The results of this study are that the policies undertaken by APT in dealing with negative economic impacts are divided into three, namely the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM), Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), and the Asian Bond Market Initiative (ABMI). The strengthening of regional cooperation has had a positive impact on efforts to recover the economy in the Southeast Asia region.
Masa Depan di Perbatasan : Pendekatan Humanitarian Pendidikan Pengungsi Anak di Indonesia
Authors: Rossdiana Renatha Ayu
Published: July 2022

Globalisasi telah menyebabkan pergerakan manusia antar negara semakin intensif dengan berbagai kondisi termasuk gelombang pengungsi. Sebagai negara transit, karena belum menandatangani konvensi pengungsi 1951, Indonesia tidak memiliki kewajiban dalam menangani pengungsi tersebut. Namun, pemerintah memberikan perhatian pada pengungsi anak utamanya dalam akses pendidikan. Pertanyaan yang dielaborasi dalam tulisan ini yaitu sejauh mana pendidikan pengungsi anak mendapat penyelesaian yang konstruktif dari pemerintah Indonesia. Kesimpulan tulisan ini yaitu pendekatan humanitarian merupakan alasan penting dibalik kebijakan Indonesia. Hal ini juga terkait dengan globalisasi yang mendorong nilai kemanusiaan semakin menjadi salah satu unsur penting dalam pengambilan kebijakan suatu negara. Dalam hal pendidikan pengungsi anak, Indonesia menaruh perhatian karena telah meratifikasi Deklarasi Umum Hak Asasi Manusia dan the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child 1989. Dengan dukungan dari pemerintah lokal, UNHCR dan IOM, penanganan pendidikan ini cukup mendapat penyelesaian yang konstruktif. Terkait kebaruan, penulis mengelaborasi kondisi pengungsi anak, tantangan, sinergitas berbagai aktor dalam memfasilitasi akses pendidikan berupa sekolah formal maupun non formal yang ditekankan melalui prinsip humaniter yang sejauh ini belum dibahas dalam publikasi lainnya yang kebanyakan fokus pada aspek hukumnya yang secara konseptual belum menyentuh ranah hubungan internasional terutama prinsip kemanusiaan.
Implikasi Kultur Strategis Italia terhadap Perjanjian Quirinal: Dinamika Kontestasi Sub-Kultur Italia dalam Hubungan Prancis-Italia
Authors: Amru Fauzan Raihan
Published: July 2022

Italia sebagai salah satu negara yang signifikan dalam dinamika lingkup Eropa dan Mediterania secara historis dipahami memiliki bentuk karakteristik budaya strategis yang unik melalui pengalaman dan nilai-nilai historis Italia. Pengalaman Italia dalam dinamika perpolitikan Eropa terhadap antar aktor dapat dipahami fluktuatif dan berhubungan erat dengan konteks interaksi antar negara di masa tertentu. Relasi Italia dengan Prancis menjadi salah satu bentuk relasi yang fluktuatif dan cenderung memiliki karakteristik yang kompetitif dengan rivalitas yang kuat di antara satu sama lainnya, khususnya dalam ranah dinamika di kawasan Mediterania. Dengan naiknya Kabinet Conte I yang meliputi partai populis Gerakan Lima Bintang (M5S) dan Lega di Italia, hubungan kedua negara mengalami deterioritasi yang kuat terhadap berbagai isu akan imigrasi dan dinamika di Afrika. Seiring dengan pergantian Kabinet menjadi di bawah Draghi, hubungan kedua negara secara kontras diperkuat melalui melalui Perjanjian Quirinal dan menguatkan interdependensi keduanya. Melalui tulisan ini, penulis akan menggunakan pendekatan kultur strategis untuk memahami implikasi Perjanjian Quirinal terhadap identitas kultur strategis Italia di era kontemporer. Dengan analisis dominasi sub-kultur strategis Italia, penulis berargumen terdapat pergeseran dominasi ide kultur strategis dan persepsi ancaman Italia di bawah Kabinet Draghi. Dinamika kawasan Mediterania dan perpolitikan di Eropa dipahami memiliki peran kuat dalam pergeseran kultur strategis Italia.
Метод оцінки коефіцієнтів при лінійних членах багатовимірної поліноміальної регресії, заданої надлишковим описом
Authors: Павлов О. , Головченко М. , Ревич M.
Published: July 2022

В роботі проведене розв’язання однієї задачі, що виникає при вирішенні проблеми оцінки коефіцієнтів членів багатовимірної поліноміальної регресії (БПР), заданої надлишковим описом за результатами умовного активного експерименту. В роботах проф. Павлова О. А. та його учнів ефективно вирішена проблема оцінки коефіцієнтів при нелінійних членах БПР з заданою малою дисперсією помилки (при умові точного розв’язання відповідних невироджених систем лінійних рівнянь). В цьому випадку гарантовано з надлишкового опису виключаються зайві нелінійні члени БПР. Задача, яка розв’язується у цій роботі, полягає у знаходженні обґрунтованого методавизначення зайвих лінійних членів БПР, заданої надлишковим описом, при використанні загального методу найменших квадратів при умові відомої (можливо, з точністю до невідомих числових значень її параметрів) функції щільності випадкової величини, що адитивно накладається на результати вимірювань вихідної змінної.

Бібл. 11.
BIOTRANSFORMATION OF WASTEWATER PRODUCTION OF BAKERY YEAST WITH BIOGAS GENERATION
Authors: Bublienko Natalia , Zakharova Ruslana , Stetsenko Natalia
Published: July 2022

Baking yeast enterprises are a source of environmental pollution by concentrated wastewater. They are usually diluted with water and discharged into sewerage. It is rational to use methane fermentation, which will ensure the removal of pollutants and make the process cost-effective through the use of biogas and digestion. Therefore, it is relevant to study the question of the influence of fermentation parameters on the cleaning efficiency.
The aim of the work is to study the methane fermentation of yeast production effluents in a continuous mode. Objectives: analysis of solving the problem of wastewater treatment of yeast plants, study of the influence of process parameters (dilution rate, addition of cobalt salts) on the efficiency of treatment; gas generation; vitamin production.
Initial COD of effluents 4500 mg O2/dm3, pH 6. Cultivation regime – continuous, dilution rate 4,1·10–3, 6,2·10–3, 8,2·10–3, 12,4·10–3 hours–1. Cleaning efficiency 78,9 %. High values ​​of dilution rate cause overload of activated sludge, which leads to reduced cleaning efficiency. The presence of cobalt also has a depressant effect. A significant amount of biogas (up to 5,2 dm3/dm3) is produced with a high content of methane (up to 85 %), which is an alternative fuel. As the dilution rate increases, the biogas and methane content decrease. With increasing dilution rate from 4,1·10–3 to 12,4·10–3 hours–1, biogas decreased from 1,11 to 0,94 dm3/g CODloading, and from 1,43 to 1,39 dm3/g CODfermentation. Similarly  to the effect on the depth of purification, the inhibitory effect of cobalt on methanogeneration is observed. Digestion is a valuable fertilizer with a significant content of cobalamin vitamins (up to 95 μсg/g). The addition of cobalt salts stimulates the synthesis of vitamins, providing an increase of 26,7 to 51,6 %, improving the ratio between active and inactive forms.
EXPERIMENTAL SCALING POTENTIAL OF HEATED WATER
Authors: Kontsevoi Serhii , Kontsevoi Andrii , Khokhotva Oleksandr
Published: July 2022

The previously proposed mechanism of bicarbonate ions decomposition by the H-mechanism (with the formation of H+ and CO32-) or OH-mechanism (with the formation of OH- and CO2) is confirmed experimentally without and with heating water up to 190oC. The change decomposition mechanism depends on hardness, alkalinity and pH.  The H-mechanism is observed at higher pH values (pH decreases) and the OH-mechanism is observed at lower values (pH increases) in particular solutions.
The developed technique is based on the measurement of changing the pH (ΔрНt) of the solution (at a fixed temperature of 15 to 25oC) after heating it to a given temperature (ranging from 40 to 190oC) and maintaining this temperature for at least 30 minutes. A decrease in the pH of the water after heating (ΔрНt>0) indicates the formation of carbonate ions and the need for additional water treatment to reduce the hardness, alkalinity or pH. The greater the ΔрНt, the greater the concentration of carbonate ions formed in water. If ΔрНt is zero then this temperature can be used as a water quality index. This temperature is 86.4oC for tap water in Kyiv (pH 7.4). Measurement of ΔрН in water meeting standards for water in German heating supply systems (pH 9.06, Hardness 45 μmol/dm3 - 5 times less than in Ukraine) shows that such water is not scale-safe (ΔрН150=0.15).
The proposed technique will be able to replace the Langelier index (up to 90oC) and the carbonate index (up to 190oC) under the condition of systematic processing of experimental data obtained for the water of different compositions on its basis. This method can be used in addition to the expensive experimental method of dynamic tube blocking.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE USE OF REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANE ELEMENTS, AND WAYS TO SOLVE THEM
Authors: Tyvonenko Artem , Mitchenko Tetiana , Vasilyuk Sergey
Published: July 2022

More than 70 percent of our planet is covered with water. And yet water is a scarce resource, and it is our future. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 1.1 billion people do not have access to it, and 2.7 billion experience a shortage of drinking water at least once a year. By 2025, two-thirds of the world's population may face water shortages.
The shortage of drinking water and the search for renewable resources are of the most important problems in the modern world, the solution of which is directed to considerable intellectual and financial resources. Reverse osmosis is one of the most common technologies for obtaining high-quality drinking water. Technological solutions constantly improve the process of reverse osmosis and reverse osmosis spiral wound membrane elements used, science and business go hand in hand. But the price of this progress is the annual generation of a large amount of waste generated from used reverse osmosis roll membrane elements, which are usually sent to the landfill, while there are no technological solutions for their disposal.
This work provides information on the available amount of such waste in the world and the dynamics of its growth in order to assess the scale of environmental damage that occurs as a result.
The work collected information about the market of reverse osmosis spiral wound membrane elements in the world, and directions of their use. The structure, composition of components and technical characteristics of reverse osmosis spiral wound membrane elements are considered in detail, which makes it possible to evaluate the ways and possibilities of their utilization. The problems of surface contamination due to various types of fouling are considered. The main attention in the work is given to the reasons that cause the formation of waste. Based on the collected data, the scale of annual waste generation, which is formed due to spent reverse osmosis roll membrane elements, was analyzed. The possibility of reusing reverse osmosis spiral wound membrane elements and the main methods of their safe disposal are also considered. Summarizing the work carried out, recommendations were made on ways to solve the problem.
Method of designing the system of classes of the subject area model on the basis of the architecture of integrated objects
Authors: Sokolov Volodymyr , Sharadkin Dmytro , Tsarenok Oleksii
Published: July 2022

The article presents a method of designing the system of software classes, which includes the stages of conceptual, logical and physical design of classes with the implementation of a software system in the architecture of integrated objects. The input data for design is the model of the subject area, which is obtained as the result of object-oriented analysis, which is represented by conceptual, mathematical and semantic models. The conceptual model defines the entities and attributes of entities and is considered as the basis for designing the properties of classes. Mathematical model, as a dynamic model of entity behavior, is formally or informally defined by mathematical formulas, algorithms, diagrams or descriptions of the implementation, which is the basis for designing class methods. The semantic model defines the concepts of subject area in relation to the elements of its model and includes identifiers, meaningful names and descriptions used for the design, programming and implementation of system functionality in terms of subject area. The proposed design method is based on the following principles: normalization of classes (reduction of data to atomic values, reduction of class methods arguments and removal of redundant class methods), replacement of inheritance by logical composition and physical integration, decapsulation (separation of physical functional model from logical data model), virtualization of classes (logical model of classes are considered as a set of relational data model and physical functional model of class methods), interrelation of models (end-to-end mapping of conceptual model on logical and physical model, and class implementation). The essence of the method is to perform successive stages of design: normalization of conceptual model, logical design of classes (transformation of mathematical model into normalized functional model, design and analysis of class characteristics), physical design of classes in architecture of integrated objects (creation of classes, mapping of logical classes on physical classes, implementation of classes in programming language). Actually, the developed design method leads to the creation of a model focused on solving problems, when instances of entities are not created entirely and only the properties and methods that are needed to calculate the desired results for given input values are used. An example of application of the method for a certain subject area with demonstration of design results is considered, and also the approach on the basis of query language of formulation of problems in terms of subject area with generation of source code in programming language is shown. The application of the method allows to increase the efficiency of creating software systems due to the non-redundancy of the system of classes and parameters of class methods, reuse of code and selection of the minimum required set of properties and class methods when solving specific problems.
Сurrent state and prospects of steganography development in telecommunication systems
Authors: Samborskyi Ivan , Tolstova Anastasiia
Published: July 2022

At present, it is necessary to ensure stable, continuous and hidden transmission of information, so it is advisable to consider the hiding of the very fact of the transmission of the message. Thus, the risk of access to information with limited access is significantly reduced. Along with this, additional messages can be encrypted. Thus, steganography is a science that provides information exchange in such a way that the very fact of the existence of a confidential message is hidden. It complements cryptography (data encryption) with another level of security rather than replacing it. To date, the use of steganography involves a number of methods for protecting information resources. It is divided into linguistic and technical. In turn, linguistic steganography is divided into: semagrams, open codes and closed ciphers. Technical steganography is divided into stego-text, stego-audio, stego-video and stego-image. For this purpose, such message carriers as images, text, audio or video are used. The media message and message (information) that needs to be hidden is broken down into bits, and these bits of information are hidden in each bit (in bits) of the media message. The information is encrypted by changing the different properties of the message carrier. Technical steganography uses special methods of signal protection, which it is advisable to implement in promising departmental means of digital communication. One of the ways to increase the hidden fact of the transmission of digital message by steganographic methods is the use of streamlined electromagnetic steganography. This concept involves the transmission of a low-power digital signal simultaneously with the radiation of a significantly more powerful legitimate source. Such a source, for example, can be a digital broadcasting transmitter. The hiding message transmission algorithm consists of three main stages: 1) the formation of electromagnetic radiation containing a hidden message 2) the additive linear addition of electromagnetic radiation containing a hidden message and stream electromagnetic container in space, 3) the demodulation of the total signal, followed by the release of the hidden message. Electromagnetic steganography, as an independent branch in the general theory of stego, with the creation of the theory of multiplayer detection has the prospects of qualitatively new development. The approaches of this theory allow to mask the hidden message not by reducing the spectral power density due to the use of broadband signals, but by ensuring the possibility of concealment of the ocular spectrum of the hidden message emitter under the ambient energy spectrum of radiation.
Application of screening techniques for early diagnostics of bipolar afapplication of screening techniques for early diagnosis of a risk of bipolar disorder in adolescents
Authors: Osipova N. N. , Bardenshteyn L. M. , Lyamets L. L. , Dmitrieva E. V.
Published: July 2022

Aim. To assess the possibility of combined application of screening methods for early detection of risks of bipolar disorder in adolescents.

Materials and methods. The study included 139 adolescents aged 13–16 years. A clinical psychopathology assessment as well as screening methods were used. The screening methods included the Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale ((BSDS), R. Pies, 2005) and the Mood Disorder Questionnaire ((MDQ), R.M. Hirschfeld, 2000).

Results. The clinical psychopathology assessment was performed in accordance with criteria of ICD-10, Class V. No mental and behavioral disorders (F00-F99), including affective pathology, were identified. Following the MDQ screening, the risk of bipolar disorder was revealed in 63 individuals (45.3%; 95 % confidence interval (CI): (36.8–53.9). When the BSDS method was used, the risk of bipolar disorder was revealed in 16.2% of cases (CI: (11.9–28.3)). The combined use of the screening scales (MDQ and BSDS) confirmed their consistency in detecting values both not exceeding (48.7% of the cases) and exceeding the threshold rates (17.1% of the cases).

Conclusion. Early diagnosis of a risk of bipolar disorder in adolescents, along with a clinical psychopathology assessment, may include application of screening scales. Сombined use of several screening methods is justified by polymorphism of initial hypomanic and depressive states, as well as by difficulties in subjective assessment of symptoms of bipolar disorder in adolescents.
Insulin-like growth factors and their transporter proteins in the liver of rats with experimental diabetes, adenocarcinoma of the uterine corpus, and their combination
Authors: Frantsiyants E. M. , Bandovkina V. A. , Kaplieva I. V. , Sheiko E. A. , Surikova E. I. , Neskubina I. V. , Trepitaki I. K. , Pogorelova Yu. A. , Cheryarina N. D. , Nemashkalova L. A. , Kotieva I. M. , Shaposhnikov A. V. , Morozova M. I.
Published: July 2022

Aim. To investigate the content of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IGF-2, and their transporter proteins IGFBP-1 and IGFBP in the liver of rats with experimental diabetes, Guerin’s carcinoma, and their combination.

Materials and methods. The experiment was carried out on 64 white outbred rats of both sexes, which were divided into 4 groups of 8 animals each: group 1 – intact animals, group 2 – animals with experimental diabetes, group 3 – animals with subcutaneously inoculated Guerin’s carcinoma, group 4 – animals with experimental diabetes and subcutaneously inoculated Guerin’s carcinoma. In the study, biochemical and statistical analyses and enzyme immunoassays were performed.

Results. In the liver of the outbred rats, sex specificity in the content of insulin-like growth factors and IGFBP-1 was established: the levels of IGF-1, IGF-2, and IGFBP-1 in males were lower than in females. It was shown that the development of diabetes mellitus and the growth of Guerin’s carcinoma led to changes in the sex-specific components in the rat liver.

Conclusion. The growth of Guerin’s carcinoma and the progression of diabetes mellitus cause multidirectional changes in IGF and IGFBP levels in the liver of females and unidirectional changes in the liver of males. Following the growth of Guerin’s carcinoma against the background of diabetes mellitus, sex-specific differences in the content of the studied parameters were minimized. It was shown that diabetes mellitus changed the metabolic profile of the liver in the animals of both sexes.
Features of the clinical presentation and course of community-acquired pneumonia against the background of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Zaytseva A. A. , Bukreeva E. B. , Ageeva T. S. , Zorkaltsev M. A. , Saprina T. V. , Udodov V. D. , Ardashirov M. M.
Published: July 2022

Community-acquired pneumonia remains the leading infectious cause of death around the world. Many factors influence the prognosis and outcome of this disease. Compared with healthy individuals, patients with diabetes mellitus are at increased risk of respiratory tract infections, such as community-acquired pneumonia. Diabetes mellitus contributes to the development of pulmonary thrombotic microangiopathy, changing the functional state of the lungs. In numerous studies involving patients with diabetes mellitus, data on the state of the lungs were obtained by instrumental tests, such as spirometry, ventilation / perfusion scintigraphy, perfusion computed tomography, and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide. In patients with community-acquired pneumonia, diabetes mellitus causes vague clinical symptoms, leads to a severe course of the disease, and contributes to development of complications. Diagnosing the functional state of the lungs in patients with community-acquired pneumonia against the background of diabetes mellitus has not been studied.
The role of surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D in viral infection: a focus on COVID-19
Authors: Kharlamovа O. S. , Nikolaev K. Yu. , Ragino Yu. I.
Published: July 2022

An immune response to invasion of viral pathogens is an integral part of maintaining the physiological functioning of the bronchopulmonary system and effective gas exchange. Collagen-containing C-type lectins (lung collectins) are some of the key proteins in the identification of viral particles. They have image-recognizing receptors that identify pathogen-associated molecular patterns, particularly viral glycoproteins. The surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D, which are composed of trimerized units, belong to pulmonary collectins and oligomerize into higher-order structures. These proteins play an essential role in recognition and elimination of microbial pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, nanoparticles, allergens) through a variety of mechanisms. Taking into account the burden of the novel coronavirus infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it is important to consider the role of the surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D in the pathogenesis of the immune response to viral invasion. Currently, there are data on the direct relationship between surfactant proteins and viruses belonging to the Coronaviridae family. The SP-A and SP-D proteins modulate inflammatory responses and cytokine synthesis, but prevent an excessive inflammatory response (cytokine storm). There is also an assumption that SARSCoV-2 directly suppresses and alters the production of surfactant proteins. Thus, the key pathogenetic role of the surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D in the response to the viral pathogen SARS-CoV-2 is evident. Today, this is a promising area of translational medicine, which will contribute to a profound understanding of the pathogenesis of coronavirus infection for assessing the diagnostic and prognostic potentials of the surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D in COVID-19. Additionally, it will help evaluate the therapeutic potential of recombinant fragments of human SP-A and SP-D.
Post-COVID syndrome is associated with increased extracellular purine bases and neutrophil extracellular traps in the blood plasma
Authors: Kazimirskii A. N. , Salmasi J. M. , Poryadin G. V. , Panina M. I. , Larina V. N. , Ryzhikh A. A.
Published: July 2022

Post-COVID syndrome is characterized by fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, muscle and joint pain, and psychoemotional disorders. In the development of a generalized body response in a viral infection, abnormal defense responses are of great importance. We studied neutrophils, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), DNA degradation products (purine nitrogenous bases, PNBs), and traditional biochemical parameters.

Aim. To determine biochemical parameters and the number of NETs and PNBs in the peripheral blood of patients with post-COVID syndrome.

Materials and methods. The study included outpatients (n = 21) aged 18–59 years (36 [27 ÷ 50]). The control group consisted of 20 individuals aged 18–59 years (38.5 [29 ÷ 51.5]) without a past medical history of the coronavirus infection. All patients underwent a physical examination, their medical history was assessed, and the level of NETs and PNBs in the venous blood was determined.

Results. 11 patients had a mild form of the disease in their past medical history, 7 – moderate, and 3 – severe. The most common symptoms in the patients were fatigue, headache, epigastric pain, dizziness, and joint pain. Hair loss and dyspnea were less common. The concentration of NETs and PNBs was higher in the patients with post-COVID syndrome than in the control group (p < 0.05). We detected NETs in the patients with post-COVID syndrome only in the form of filamentous structures. The concentration of extracellular purine bases in the blood of the patients with post-COVID syndrome was the highest in patients with moderate and severe acute periods. In patients with a mild acute period, the concentration of PNBs was 7.38 [0.0 ÷ 60.7] mg / ml, and in patients with moderate and severe acute periods – 19.15 [0.0 ÷ 33.5] and 34.19 [3.35 ÷ 70.0] mg / ml, respectively.

Conclusion. Extracellular purine bases in concentrations capable of causing secondary alteration of cells are found in the peripheral blood of patients with post-COVID syndrome. Post-COVID syndrome is accompanied by the formation of filamentous NETs in the blood of patients.
Interferons alpha and gamma, pidotimod, and tilorone in the treatment of acute respiratory infections in patients with allergic rhinitis: a prospective, cohort clinical and immunological study
Authors: Kalyuzhin O. V. , Ponezheva L. O. , Turapova A. N. , Nurtazina A. Yu. , Bykov A. S. , Karaulov A. V.
Published: July 2022

Aim. To compare the clinical efficacy and influence on interferon (IFN) production / sensing of drugs with immunemediated antiviral effects, which potentiate type 1 (T1) immune responses, in the treatment of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Materials and methods.146 ARI patients with remission of seasonal allergic rhinitis were divided into 4 cohorts. In addition to symptomatic therapy, patients received either 2,000 IU of IFNγ in each nasal passage 5 times a day; or rectal suppositories containing 106 IU of IFN-α2b and antioxidants (AO) twice a day, and a gel with IFN-α2b and AO intranasally 3 times a day; or 400 mg of pidotimod per os twice a day; or 125 mg of tilorone per os on days 1, 2, 4, and 6. The severity of ARI was determined daily as the sum of 10-point scores for 15 symptoms. Serum concentrations of IFNα and IFNγ and the ability of blood cells to produce these cytokines ex vivo spontaneously and upon stimulation with Newcastle disease virus or phytohemagglutinin were studied using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The proportions of circulating lymphocytes expressing type I IFN receptor subunit 2 (CD118) or IFNγ receptor α-chain (CD119) were determined by flow cytometry.

Results. ARI symptoms in all cohorts generally regressed in a similar way. However, from day 5 of the treatment, pidotimod relieved symptoms more effectively than other drugs. In patients treated with tilorone, the regression of ARI manifestations was delayed in the first two to three days, followed by rapid symptom reduction. An initial decrease in the induced production of IFNγ was found in patients treated with pidotimod, and a tendency to a decrease in this parameter was noted in other cohorts. The induced production of IFNγ after the treatment in all groups did not differ from that in healthy donors. No significant changes and differences in the proportions of CD118+ and CD119+ lymphocytes were found between the cohorts, except for a decrease in the number of CD118+ cells after the treatment with tilorone. In patients treated with IFN-α2b + AO, the proportions of CD119+ and CD118+ lymphocytes tended to increase slightly.

Conclusion. Drugs that promote the development of T1 over T2 immune responses are a useful option for treating ARI in patients with allergic rhinitis.
Impact of Information Technology on Society in the New Century
Authors: Azam Muhammad , Nouman Muhammad , Rehman Gill Ahsan
Published: July 2022

As we are aware Information Technology had its cutting-edge lifestyle from the overdue sixties of the remaining century whilst the Arpanet become introduced, funded with the aid of using the branch of protection of the USA. After that, the IT enterprise has come a protracted manner to its cutting-edge form in which its miles gambling a dominant function in each sphere of life. It has made innovative modifications in facts amassing and dissemination and worldwide communication. It is growing into a surely paperless painting environment. Also, we can now ship a message very without difficulty to everywhere withinside the international in seconds. From a schooling factor of view, we can have a digital elegance in which the teacher ought to take a seat down in any part of the arena and his college students scattered in all exceptional elements of the arena via video convention with the presentation of look at substances in addition to query and solution sessions. A health practitioner now sitting in any part of the arena ought to carry out a surgical procedure in which the affected person is mendacity in some other part of the arena. These work examples display where we stand these days compared to what has become 1/2 of a century back. But as we recognize, nothing on this international is only correct as the whole thing has a darkish side. In this paper, we might speak about the deserves and demerits of enforcing IT globally and in which we are heading withinside the future.
Web-Questionnaire-Based Corpus Creation Under Assumption of Human as Speech Targets
Authors: Shima Kazuaki , She Jinhua , Obuchi Yasunari , Iliyasu Abdullah M. ,   Tokyo University of Technology 1404-1 Katakura, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0982, Japan,   Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University Al-Kharj 11942, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: July 2022

This paper presents a method that uses a web questionnaire to create a corpus containing spontaneous utterances of natural ideas, which may contain grammatical mistakes. In an experimental implementation of the method, the subjects were informed that they were receiving nursing care from a person, and they were required to answer a web-based questionnaire in which their responses were recorded as speech utterances. Compared to the Wizard of Oz approach and interview-based corpus-creation methods, the presented method simplifies the collection of utterances. Furthermore, we conducted a two-fold assessment to verify the effectiveness of the presented method. First, the approach exhibited a significant reduction in workload compared to interview-style utterance collection. Second, we compared the variety of expressions collected when subjects were informed that they were talking to a person with those collected when they were informed that they were communicating with a nursing robot. The results indicate that, although the number of utterances was larger for a robot than for a person, in terms of other metrics such as time efficiency index, the total number of morphemes, the average number of morphemes per utterance, the number of unique morphemes, and coefficient of variation, the utterances were larger for a human speech target than for a robot.
The Motivation Behind Participation in Virtual CSR Co-Creation by Chinese Post-90s: A Case Study of Ant Forest
Authors: Cheng Huihui , Kodono Yukio ,   Graduate School of Commerce, Kindai University 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashiosaka City, Osaka 577-8502, Japan,   Faculty of Business Administration, Kindai University 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashiosaka City, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
Published: July 2022

With the development of economy and society, the utilization of the Internet in all walks of life is booming, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) has also evolved from a traditional offline model to a combination of online and offline models. The use of social media for value co-creation is called virtual value co-creation. China’s Alipay platform launched a public welfare activity Ant Forest, which is an example of virtual value co-creation. Behind this seemingly simple activity is a complex value co-creation behavior. This article considers Ant Forest as an example, guided by the theory of value co-creation, and selects the post-90s as the research object to explore the motivation of users to participate in virtual value co-creation.