bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Posterior Tibial Slope Affects the Measurement Reliability Regarding the Radiographic Parameter of the Knee
Authors: Lee Seung-Hun , Yoo Je-Hyun , Kwak Dae-Kyung , Kim Sung-Hwan , Chae Sung-Kuk , Moon Hyun-Soo
Published: October 2023

Background
Posterior tibial slope (PTS) exhibits considerable variability among individuals and is anticipated to influence the accuracy of radiographic measurements related to the knee. Despite this potential impact, there is a lack of prior research investigating how PTS affects the accuracy of these measurements. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of PTS on the measurement reliability regarding the radiographic parameter of the knee.
Methods
The medical records of patients who took full-length anteroposterior radiographs of the lower limb between January 2020 and June 2022 were evaluated retrospectively. Radiographic parameters related to the knee joint characteristics such as osteoarthritis grade, hip-knee-ankle angle, weight-bearing line ratio, medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), lateral distal femoral angle, joint-line convergence angle (JLCA), and PTS were measured. Subjects were classified into 3 groups according to PTS (group A, PTS < 4°; group B, PTS ≥ 4° and < 8°; group C, PTS ≥ 8°), and the measurement reliability for the radiographic variables mentioned above was compared between groups. The intra- and inter-observer agreements were assessed using the kappa coefficients, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC), and Bland-Altman plots.
Results
A total of 175 limbs (86 patients) were included in this study. As the intra- and inter-observer reliability for PTS ranged over 0.9, grouping was performed based on the average of the measured PTSs. In the 3-group comparison of measurement reliability for radiographic parameters, the inter-observer reliability of the MPTA and JLCA decreased as the PTS increased (ICCs for MPTA in Groups A, B, and C: 0.889, 0.796, and 0.790, respectively; ICCs for JLCA in Groups A, B and C: 0.916, 0.859, and 0.843, respectively), whereas there were no remarkable differences in other variables. Similar trends were observed in the comparisons of intra-observer reliability. Additional Bland-Altman plots also showed consistent results.
Conclusion
The larger the PTS, the lower the measurement reliability regarding the radiographic parameters of the knee that includes the joint line, such as MPTA and JLCA. Since accurate identification of the joint line of the knee is occasionally challenging in patients with a relatively large PTS, care should be exercised when measuring these radiographic parameters.
Temporal recalibration in response to delayed visual feedback of active versus passive actions: An fMRI study
Authors: Kufer Konstantin , Schmitter Christina V. , Kircher Tilo , Straube Benjamin
Published: October 2023

The brain can adapt its expectations about the relative timing of actions and their sensory outcomes in a process known as temporal recalibration. This might occur as the recalibration of timing between the outcome and (1) the motor act (sensorimotor) or (2) tactile/proprioceptive information (inter-sensory). This fMRI recalibration study investigated sensorimotor contributions to temporal recalibration by comparing active and passive conditions. Subjects were repeatedly exposed to delayed (150ms) or undelayed visual stimuli, triggered by active or passive button presses. Recalibration effects were tested in delay detection tasks, including visual and auditory outcomes. We showed that both modalities were affected by visual recalibration. However, an active advantage was observed only in visual conditions. Recalibration was generally associated with the left cerebellum (lobules IV, V and vermis) while action related activation (active > passive) occurred in the right middle/superior frontal gyrus during adaptation and test phases. Recalibration transferred from vision to audition was related to action specific activations in the cingulate cortex, the angular gyrus and left inferior frontal gyrus. Our data provide new insights in sensorimotor contributions to temporal recalibration via the superior frontal gyrus and inter-sensory contributions mediated by the cerebellum.
Study of combustion characteristics of macadamia shells and coffee husks briquettes in a fixed bed reactor
Authors: Maingi Apollo Muoki , Kiraithe Royston M. , Musau Stephen K.
Published: October 2023

In this paper the study was conducted to investigate the combustion characteristics of macadamia shells and coffee husks in a fixed bed reactor. The parameters tested included ignition time, flame propagation speed, mass loss history and temperature flame. Macadamia shell and coffee husk briquettes were produced by mixing with molasses in the ratio of 8:2 and compressed in a mold and piston press at a constant force of 100 K. The briquettes were tested in a fixed bed reactor operated at a constant air mass flowrate of 0.1 kg/s.. The study established that briquettes made from macadamia shells had a higher ignition time of 5.5 minutes compared to the coffee husk which had an ignition time of 2.5 minutes. In addition, briquettes made from macadamia have a lower flame propagation speed of 3.841×10-5 m/s compared to the flame propagation speed of coffee husks briquettes which was found to be 1.332×10-5 m/s. Macadamia briquettes resulted to higher flame temperatures of 600 oC compared to coffee husks briquettes 424 oC when burned in the fixed bed reactor. Therefore, Macadamia briquettes are suitable in small scale application as compared to coffee husk briquettes
The application value of "retrocolic approach, artery priority, uncinate process first" in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Guan Qingchun , Hou Nini , Wang Miao , Liu Yahui , Zhang Hui
Published: October 2023

Purpose
The aim of this study is to explore the application value of " retrocolic approach, artery priority, uncinate process first " in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy, and to elaborate other common approaches.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 100 patients who underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy using this approach in our hospital from January 2018 to October 2018. We used SPSS22.0 for statistical analysis. Measurement data were expressed as OR M (Q25-Q75), and count data were expressed as frequency and rate.
Results
The average operation time was 267.82 ± 49.18 minutes, the average intraoperative blood loss was 165.30 ± 100.49ml, and 17 patients received blood transfusion. The average time of gastric tube removal was 5.67 ± 2.95 days, and the average time of eating was 5.32 ± 2.79 days. Postoperative complications occurred in 22 patients, including pancreatic fistula (n = 12), biliary fistula (n = 5), delayed gastric emptying (n = 2), intestinal obstruction (n = 1), gastrointestinal fistula (n = 1), postoperative bleeding (n = 8), abdominal infection (n = 9), pulmonary infection (n = 6), and reoperation (gastroscopy) (n = 8). The average length of hospital stay was 16.79 ± 8.98 days, and one patient died (1.00%). The mean tumor size was 3.03 ± 2.41cm. The mean number of lymph nodes dissected was 11.77 ± 5.66, and the mean number of positive lymph nodes was 1.10 ± 1.81.
Conclusions
The " retrocolic approach, artery priority, uncinate process first " approach shorted the operation time, reduced intraoperative blood loss and surgical complications. It is a safe, rapid and effective approach, which is worthy of further clinical promotion and application.
Current status and future prospects of Wanghu wetland on the southestern of Hubei Province, China
Authors: Tingbo Shen , Min Tan , Liu Jing , Xiangdong Xu , Lifeng Zhi , Runfeng Zhang
Published: October 2023

Wanghu wetland, located in the middle reaches of Yangtze River and the southeast of Hubei province, is a Wetland Nature Reserve of Hubei province and has been inscribed on the list of Wetlands of International Importance by the Ramsar Secretariat. As an important flood buffer system for the Yangtze and Fu rivers, Wanghu Wetland supports a variety of rare and threatened species and provides important stopover and wintering grounds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway for birds. However, due to human activities, it had suffered serious ecosystem damage from 1950s to 2010s. To protect biodiversity and the functioning of the ecosystem of Wanghu Wetland, great measures has been enforced during the past 10 years and the wetland ecology is gradually restoring. This study is important for biodiversity conservation and the management of Wanghu Wetland in Hubei province, central China.
Two at once: simultaneous increased production of astaxanthin and mycosporines in a single Batch culture using a Phaffia rhodozyma mutant strain
Authors: Moliné Martín , Libkind Diego , Broock María Rosa van
Published: October 2023

Phaffia rhodozyma is a basidiomycetous yeast characterized by its production of the carotenoid pigment astaxanthin, which holds high commercial value for its significance in aquaculture, cosmetics and as nutraceutics, and the UV-B-absorbing compound mycosporine-glutaminol-glucoside (MGG), which is of great biotechnological relevance for its incorporation into natural sunscreens. However, the industrial exploitation has been limited to the production of astaxanthin in small quantities. On the other hand, the accumulation of MGG in P. rhodozyma was recently reported and could add value to the simultaneous production of both metabolites. In this work, we obtain a mutant strain that overproduces both compounds, furthermore we determined how the accumulation of each is affected by the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and six biotic and abiotic factors. The mutant obtained produces 159% more astaxanthin and 220% more MGG than the parental strain. Furthermore, we establish that the carotenoids accumulate during the exponential growth phase while MGG accumulates during the stationary phase. The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio affects each metabolite differently, high ratios favoring carotenoid accumulation while low ratios favoring MGG accumulation. Finally, the accumulation of both metabolites is stimulated only by photosynthetically active radiation and low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. The mutant strain obtained is the first hyper-productive mutant capable of accumulating high concentrations of MGG and astaxanthin described to date. The characterization of how both compounds accumulate during growth and the factors that stimulate their accumulation, are the first steps toward the future commercial exploitation of strains for the simultaneous production of two biotechnologically important metabolites.
Siglec-15 expression in diffuse glioma and its correlation with MRI morphologic features and ADC
Authors: Chen Quan , Wang Chunhua , Geng Yingqian , Zheng Wanyi , Shi Yuting , Xiao Huinan , Sun Yifan , Hu Xiaomei , Jiang Rifeng , Wu Zhenxing
Published: October 2023

Objective: To investigate the expression of sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 15 (Siglec-15) in diffuse glioma and its correlation with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features for glioma patients.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 57 glioma patients. Morphological MRI features including the largest tumor diameter, enhancement category, location, calcification, cysts, and hemorrhage were visually rated. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were calculated in tumor region. The difference of MRI morphologic features and ADC were compared between patients with positive and negative Siglec-15 expression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were further constructed to assess the diagnostic performance.
Results: Siglec-15 was not expressed in glioma cells, but in immunocytes such as macrophages in the peritumoral area. Positive Siglec-15 expression was observed in 35.09% (20/57) of patients, and higher in IDH1-mutant gliomas and lower-grade gliomas. The tumor diameter was significantly smaller in patients with positive Siglec-15 expression than in those with negative expression for all glioma patients (p=0.017) and for patients with mutant IDH1 glioma (p=0.020). Moreover, ADC values of the tumor were significantly higher in patients with positive Siglec-15 expression than in those with negative expression for all glioma patients (p=0.027). The areas under curve (AUCs) of the diameter and ADC were 0.702 and 0.686, respectively. A combination of these two parameters generated an improved AUC of 0.762, a sensitivity of 73.68%, and a specificity of 71.87%.
Conclusions: Siglec-15 was not expressed in glioma cells, but in immunocytes such as macrophages in the peritumoral area, with a positive rate of 35.09%. Positive Siglec-15 expression in diffuse glioma was correlated with smaller tumor size and higher ADC values.
Session-based Recommendation Model of Graph Neural Network with Attention Mechanism
Authors: Jimenez Tlaloc , Norton John , Salazar Ixchel , Morales Quetzal
Published: October 2023

People have moved from the era of data poverty to the era of information sharing and the volume of data has exploded. Recommendation systems are based on the user's characteristics and generated behavioral data, and characterize the user's preferences through the user's ratings, comments, votes, and other behaviors; however, in many scenarios, the user's aforementioned information is not available due to security requirements. In recent years, most of the studies applied recurrent neural networks to session-based recommender systems with good results. However, these algorithms still have the following problems: 1. Modeling unidirectional transitions between consecutive items using only the sequence of user clicks. They ignore other items in the session, i.e., they ignore the complex transitions between distant items. 2. Ignoring information about the time an item is viewed. It is widely recognized that users tend to spend more time on items that interest them. In this paper, we propose a session-based recommendation model based on graph neural networks. The embedding information of items and item categories is obtained by a graph neural network. Because different features have different levels of importance in the prediction, the module uses an attention mechanism to fuse the information and get a final representation of the session that predicts the next item to interact with. Finally, the recurrent neural network (RNN) is used to obtain the session timing information for recommendation.
An Analysis of Bilingual Text in Pakistani Advertisements: A Sociolinguistics Study
Authors: Ghulam Kishwar , Nusrat Muhammad
Published: October 2023

This study is based on sociolinguistic aspects of advertisements, and these advertisements contain bilingual text and diversity of human life governed through advertisements in which all cultural life portrayed by advertisers and designers of these companies design the advertisements according to regional culture as this research based on the bilingual text on Pakistani advertisements and according to Pakistani culture the most common used language is URDU which analyzed in this research along with commonly used international language ENGLISH. This study revealed that linguistics and semiotics on advertisements according to Pakistani culture, and this research is based on the qualitative design, which explored cross-cultural aspects based on Roland Barthes’s theory. These ads become a source of target audiences of that culture, and bilingual text on advertisements became the source of the conversation, thus promoting products and constructing identity in this diversity occurred through bilingual advertisements like Banks, companies’ identity, beauty products, food and clothing brands, medicine companies remained the research study.
Association between microbiome and psoriasis vulgaris and arthropathic psoriasis: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zhang Jin , Xiang Yang , Shen Yingjie , Chen Jiqiu , Liu Lei , Liu Qingsong , Jin Jian , Zhu Shihui
Published: October 2023

Background:
Research has found that a certain link between gut microbiota(GM) and arthropathic psoriasis(PsA) and psoriasis vulgaris(PV). However, the association between GM and PsA and PV has yield conflicting results due to the influence of confounding factors. GM may increase the risk of PsA and PV through the gut-skin axis.
Methods:
We used a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to explore the relationship between GM and PsA and PV, using genetic variation from published genome-wide association studies as an instrumental variable. Reverse variance weighting, maximum likelihood, MR Egger, weighted median, weighted model, MR-PRESSO, and cML MA were used to examine the causal relationship between GM and PsA and PV. Several sensitivity analyses were also performed to ensure the accuracy of the re-sults Cochran's Q statistics are used to quantify the heterogeneity of Instrumental variables estimation.
Results:
A higher genetically predicted abundance Odoribacter was associated with a reduced risk of psoriasis. While a higher genetically predicted abundance of Ruminiclostridium5 was associated with an increased risk of psoriasis. The genetically predicted relative abundance of Verrucomicrobiae, Verrucomicrobiaceae, Akkermansia, Verrucomicrobiales were positively associated with arthropathic psoriasis. A higher genetically predicted abundance of Rikenellaceae served as protective factors for arthropathic psoriasis. Specifically, a higher genetically predicted Atinomycetaceae, Eubacterium fissicatena group, Lactococcus, and Actinomycetales were associated with a higher risk of psoriasis vulgaris. In contrast, higher genetically predicted Odoribacter was a lower risk of psoriasis vulgaris. No significant heterogeneity or level pleiotropy of Instrumental variables estimation was found.
Conclusion:
This MR study offer novel perspectives regarding the prevention, advancement, and therapy of psoriasis by concentrating on specific bacterial groups. Additional research is required to specify the exact mechanism relating the association between gut microbiota and psoriasis along with its classifications.
The Association between Blood Glucose Levels and Lipids in the General Adult Population: Results from NHANES (2005–2016)
Authors: Yang Chenghao , Zhang Lingxiao , Gao Junqing , Liu Zongjun
Published: October 2023

OBJECTIVE: Although abnormal lipid metabolism is one of the major risk factors for diabetes, the correlation between lipids and glucose is rarely discussed in the general population. The differences in lipid-glucose correlations across gender and ethnicity have been even more rarely studied. We examined the association between fasting blood glucose (FBG) and lipids, including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and apolipoprotein B (ApoB), using 6,093 participants aged 20 years or older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
METHODS: Analyses were performed using multiple logistic regression and generalised additive models.
RESULTS: When other confounders were considered, we found that fasting glucose was positively correlated with triglycerides and negatively correlated with HDL-C, whereas total cholesterol, LDL-C cholesterol, and fasting glucose were related to each other in a U-curve fashion, with inflection points of 5.17 mmol/L and 2.3 mmol/L, respectively.This relationship persisted in subgroups of different sexes and races. A positive correlation was found between fasting glucose and ApoB, but subgroup analyses revealed that this relationship was not correlated across gender and race.
CONCLUSION: In the general population, fasting blood glucose levels were positively correlated with TG, negatively correlated with HDL-C, and U-shaped with total cholesterol and LDL-C. The likelihood of developing diabetes was 40% higher when LDL-C was greater than 2.3 mmol/L than in patients with LDL-C less than 2.3 mmol/L.
Exploration: 16 Shells and Magic Numbers
Authors: Lin Jingfeng
Published: October 2023

This paper explores the regularity of nucleon numbers and magic numbers within known nuclides, presenting a hierarchical arrangement mechanism that suggests a shell structure spanning from 1 to 16. This proposed structure unifies nucleon distribution patterns in specific nuclides associated with magic numbers. Additionally, we discuss elemental atomic weight inversions as supporting evidence for the nucleon arrangement pattern. These arrangements are interpreted as eigenstates of nucleon probability density. Furthermore, the study introduces a three-dimensional structural extension in the form of a toroidal helix model. Nevertheless, grasping the full complexity of this intriguing model remains a formidable challenge.
A Retrospective Cohort to Access the Accuracy of Agitated Saline Bubble–Enhanced Ultrasound to Visualize Appropriated Position of Hemodialysis Catheter: Does Catheter Venous Site Matter?
Authors: Barbosa Géssica Sabrine Braga , Smolentzov Igor , Ribeiro Rayra Gomes , Filho Marcelo Paes Menezes , Cortes Daniela del Pilar via Reque , Botter Denise Aparecida , Gutierrez Gabriel Monteiro , Sandoval Mônica Carneiro , Rodrigues Camila Eleutério
Published: October 2023

Background
The non-tunnelled hemodialysis catheter (HDC) is commonly used to start renal replacement therapy in hospitalised patients, especially in acute kidney injury. Malposition of HDC is associated with delayed therapy and inadequate dialysis. Agitated saline bubble-enhanced ultrasound (SBUS) has become a new method to visualise catheter position at the same time of insertion. Our aim is to analyse the concordance of SBUS and chest radiography (CXR) to assess HDC position, according to the site of insertion: right vs left internal jugular vein (IJV).
Methods
From December 2019 to May 2021, we evaluated 152 hospitalized patients submitted to IJV catheter insertion. We evaluated the time from puncture to CXR result, procedure-related complications, blood flow and the accuracy of SBUS when compared to CXR to detect HDC position adequacy.
Results
The median [IQR] time between catheter insertion and CXR result was 191 [93;288] minutes, no difference between puncture sites. Complications after catheter insertion were mostly arterial puncture (2% overall), similar incidence between sites. The incidence of inadequate blood flow was higher at the left IJV than at the right IJV. For HDC at the right IJV, there was high concordance between position-adequacy assessment by SBUS and CXR (AC1) of Gwet = 0.95, CI: 0.915; 0.992), 95.6% accuracy. For HDC at the left IJV the concordance was low (AC1) of Gwet 0.37, IC: -0.21; 0,94), as was accuracy (64.3%).
Conclusion
Compared with chest radiography, agitated saline bubble-enhanced ultrasound is a suitable method to check catheter placement when right internal jugular vein is used, but not left for internal jugular vein.
Classification of Acceleration Signal in Machining Process for Surface Roughness Identification using Tuned Support Vector Mechanics
Authors: Jamil Norlida , Rosyidi Cucuk Nur , Yusoff Ahmad Razlan
Published: October 2023

In industrial applications, accurate surface roughness identification and characterization are essential for ensuring product quality, dependability, and performance. The suggested technique efficiently processes and examines the acceleration data of a cutting operation for surface quality detection using customized Support Vector Mechanics (SVM). The suggested method extracts pertinent data from the acceleration signals using a number of feature extraction approaches. Incorporating the collected features, the improved SVM model creates a strong classification framework that is capable of precisely recognizing various degrees of surface roughness. An extensive dataset made up of acceleration signals from various machining operations and surface roughness conditions is used to assess the performance of the proposed approach. Using this dataset, the hyper-tuning of the SVM model is trained and tested to determine its classification precision and generalizability. The experimental findings show that, when compared to conventional classification methods, the customized SVM model performs better. The suggested method regularly demonstrates durability and reliability while achieving excellent classification accuracy across a range of surface roughness levels. The suggested method provides a workable and effective solution for automating surface roughness identification, enabling in-process quality control and real-time monitoring.
An Open Source R Package for Detection of Adverse Events Under-Reporting in Clinical Trials - Implementation and Validation by the IMPALA (Inter coMPany quALity Analytics) Consortium
Authors: Koneswarakantha Björn , Adyanthaya Ronojit , Emerson Jennifer , Collin Frederik , Keller Annett , Mattheus Michaela , Spyroglou Ioannis , Donevska Sandra , Ménard Timothé
Published: October 2023

Accurate and timely reporting of adverse events (AE) in clinical trials is crucial to ensuring data integrity and patient safety. However, AE under-reporting remains a challenge, often highlighted in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) audits and inspections. Traditional detection methods, such as on-site investigator audits via manual source data verification (SDV), have limitations. Addressing this, the open-source R package {simaerep} was developed to facilitate rapid, comprehensive, and near-real-time detection of AE under-reporting at each clinical trial site. This package leverages patient-level AE and visit data for its analyses. To validate its efficacy, three member companies from the Inter-coMPany quALity Analytics (IMPALA) consortium independently assessed the package. Results showed that {simaerep} consistently and effectively identified AE under-reporting across all three companies, particularly when there were significant differences in AE rates between compliant and non-compliant sites. Furthermore, {simaerep}'s detection rates surpassed heuristic methods, and it identified 50% of all detectable sites as early as 25% into the designated study duration. The open-source package can be embedded into audits to enable fast, holistic and repeatable quality oversight of clinical trials.
Investigating the Influence of Combined Loads on Pile Behavior and Structural Response
Authors: Daas Suokanda
Published: October 2023

Piles experience a combination of vertical and lateral loads within stratified sand and clay soil settings. The existing body of experimental research specifically focused on embedded piles in layered cohesionless soil under combined loads is limited. This article presents the findings of experimental investigations conducted on laterally loaded piles, driven with varying energy levels, within different conditions of vertical loading in layered sandy soil at diverse densities. The analysis primarily focused on examining the bending moment and strain along the driven aluminum model pile to assess the load deflection response. The results of the study indicate that the lateral deflection tends to decrease with an increase in driving energy within a single layer of sandy soil. This phenomenon can be attributed to the compaction of the surrounding ground and the consequent rise in effective horizontal soil stress during the pile driving process. The comprehensive combined load tests revealed that the presence of vertical loads significantly amplifies the bending moments and lateral deflection of the pile head. This highlights the complex interplay between different load types and soil characteristics, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of the behavior of piles under such combined loading conditions.
The role of Bartonella adhesin A and fibronectin in adherence of Bartonella henselae to endothelial cells
Authors:   , Vaca Llerena Diana Jaqueline
Published: October 2023

The capacity of pathogenic bacteria to adhere to host cells and to avoid subsequent clearance by the host´s immune response is the initial and most decisive step leading to infections. Human pathogenic bacteria circulating in the bloodstream need to find ways to interact with endothelial cells (ECs) lining the blood vessels to infect and colonise the host. The extracellular matrix (ECM) of ECs might represent an attractive initial target for bacterial interaction, as many bacterial adhesins have reported affinities to ECM proteins, particularly fibronectin (Fn). Trimeric autotransporter adhesins (TAA) have been described as important pathogenicity factors of Gram-negative bacteria. The TAA from human pathogenic Bartonella henselae, Bartonella adhesin A (BadA), is one of the longest and best characterised adhesin and represents a prototypic TAA due to its domain architecture. B. henselae, the causative agent of cat scratch disease, endocarditis, and bacillary angiomatosis, adheres to ECs and ECM proteins via BadA interaction. In this research, it was determined that the interaction between BadA and Fn is essential for B. henselae host cell adhesion. BadA interactions were identified within the heparin-binding domains of Fn, and the exact binding sites were revealed by mass spectrometry analysis of chemically crosslinked whole-cell bacteria and Fn. It turned out that specific BadA interactions with defined Fn regions represent the molecular basis for bacterial adhesion to ECs. These data were confirmed by using BadA-deficient bacteria and CRISPR-Cas FN1 knockout ECs. It was also identified that BadA binds to Fn from both cellular and plasma origin, suggesting that B. henselae binding to Fn might possibly take part in other infection processes apart from bacterial adherence, e.g. evasion from the host cell immune system. Interactions between TAAs and Fn represent a key step for adherence of B. henselae to ECs. Still, Fn-mediated binding is of more significant importance for pathogenic bacteria than broadly recognised. Fn removal from the ECM environment of ECs, also reduced adherence of Staphylococcus aureus, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Acinetobacter baumannii to host cells Interactions between adhesins and Fn might therefore represent a crucial step for the adhesion of human-pathogenic Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria targeting the ECs as a niche of infection or as means for persistence. This research demonstrated that combining large-scale analysis approaches to describe protein-protein interactions with supportive functional readouts (binding assays) allows for the discrimination of crucial interactions involved in bacterial adhesion to the host. The herein-described experimental approaches and tools might guide future research for other pathogenic bacteria and represent an initial point for the future generation of anti-virulence strategies to inhibit bacterial binding to host cells.
Komparasi Algoritme Random Forest dan XGBoosting dalam Klasifikasi Performa UMKM
Authors: Erkamim Moh , Suswadi Suswadi , Subarkah Muhammad Zidni , Widarti Erni
Published: October 2023

The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the whole world, especially Indonesia. Various policies have been implemented starting from the implementation of lockdowns, restrictions on large-scale economic activities, and bans from leaving the region. The economic sector is a sector that has been affected quite a lot, one of which is Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, many MSMEs have suffered losses, so many investors have started to consider investing in MSMEs. Therefore, MSMEs need to know their business performance through potential analysis and financial reports to deal with the economic crisis during a pandemic. This study compares two algorithms namely Random Forest and XGBoosting in classifying the good or bad performance of MSME financial conditions. The performance of the developed algorithm will be improved using hyperparameter tuning to obtain the best parameter combination for each algorithm. In this study, the Random Forest algorithm has an accuracy value of 0.944 and an f1-score of 0.944, while the XGBoosting algorithm has an accuracy value of 0.944 and an f1-score of 0.950. Based on the model with the best evaluation metric, six important features are obtained: the 2021 profit and loss variable, 2020 cash, 2020 liabilities, 2020 capital, 2021 sales, and 2021 liabilities.
Plea for the use of the exact Stirling formula in statistical mechanics
Authors: Lairez Didier
Published: October 2023

In statistical mechanics, the generally called Stirling approximation is actually an approximation of Stirling’s formula. In this article, it is shown that the term that is dropped is in fact the one that takes fluctuations into account. The use of the Stirling’s exact formula forces us to reintroduce them into the already proposed solutions of well-know puzzles such as the extensivity paradox or the Gibbs’ paradox of joining two volumes of identical gas. This amendment clearly results in a gain in consistency and rigor of these solutions.
Exemption from criminal liability with the appointment of a court fine: Application trends and development prospects
Authors:   Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M. V. Lomonosov, Skripchenko Nina Yu. , Anoshchenkova Svetlana V. ,   St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation
Published: October 2023

The article analyzes statistical data reflecting the trends in the implementation of exemption from criminal liability with the appointment of a judicial fine. It has been established that the legislative expansion in 2016 of the exempting norms was reflected not in the level of their application, but in the structure. The crisis phenomena in the economy that emerged in 2020, provoked by COVID-19 restrictions, slowed down the growth in the application of Art. 76.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, achieved by reducing the level of implementation of Art. 76 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Expansion Art. 76.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation contributed to the broad interpretation of the terms of application by the Ruling of the Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. By allowing any actions of the perpetrator to be classified as compensatory, provided that they are legal and do not infringe on the rights of third parties, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation laid the foundation for the “reassessment” of the actual circumstances from active repentance or reconciliation with the victim to compensation for damage and allowed the extension of exempting norms to persons who have committed acts that harm the public interest. Sharing the desire of the legislator to reduce the repressiveness of the criminal law, it is necessary to keep the institution of exemption from criminal liability of an exceptional nature by limiting the possibility of its application in relation to criminal acts that pose a threat to national security. The results of the study give reason to doubt the expediency of further regulatory expansion of the institution under consideration. The best option for reducing the share of crime is reasonable criminalization and adequate penalization of socially dangerous acts.
Law enforcement practice as an object of constitutional judicial assessment in the Russian Federation: Background, experience, problems
Authors:   Baikal State University, Petrov Aleksei A.
Published: October 2023

Turning to law enforcement practice has been and remains an important component of the activities of the Russian Constitutional Court. At the first stage of the history of the Russian judicial constitutional control — during the period of the Constitution (Basic Law) of the Russian Federation — Russia of 1978 and the RSFSR Law of July 12, 1991 No. 1599-I “On the Constitutional Court of the RSFSR” — consideration of cases on checking the constitutionality of law enforcement practice was separate authority of the Constitutional Court. In these conditions, law enforcement practice was the direct object of judicial constitutional review. With the adoption of the Constitution of the Russian Federation of 1993 and the Federal Constitutional Law of July 21, 1994 No. 1-FKZ “On the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation”, the verification of the constitutionality of law enforcement practice was excluded from the competence of the Constitutional Court. At present, the Constitutional Court, while checking the constitutionality of legal acts, actively uses law enforcement practice as one of the means of establishing the meaning of the contested acts. The article shows that the Constitutional Court is constantly faces with the problems of defining the concept of law enforcement practice, which can receive different content in different situations. The question of the criteria under which law enforcement practice should be recognized as established is also unclear. Nevertheless, the importance of law enforcement practice for the activities of the Constitutional Court is generally increasing, which is confirmed, among other things, by the amendments made to the Federal Constitutional Law “On the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation” in 2020. The conclusion is substantiated that the appeal to law enforcement practice contributes to the adoption of more motivated and balanced decisions by the Constitutional Court.
International legal framework on maritime piracy
Authors:   MGIMO University, Postoeva Evgenia A. , Shestak Viktor A. ,   Moscow Academy of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation
Published: October 2023

The article examines the phenomenon of piracy crimes based on the study of the international legal framework. The goal set by the authors is to identify possible ways and mechanisms by which States will be able to carry out effective international cooperation to bring pirates to justice and reduce the number of pirate attacks. The authors note that the beginning of the development of the efforts of the international community in the field of combating piracy falls in the middle of the 19th century. Further attempts to create a treaty at the beginning of the 20th century did not lead to success, but laid the foundation for the adoption of the 1958 Convention on the High Seas and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which contain the universally recognized concept of piracy. The authors analyze the main elements of the crime of piracy (an illegal act of violence or detention, or any act of depredation; private ends; the “rule of two ships”; outside the jurisdiction of any State) and consider controversial issues of interpretation of these elements. Attention is drawn to the fact that existing sources aimed at countering piracy crimes include the obligation of States to cooperate. Since they do not contain specific forms of international cooperation, but are only limited to a general obligation to provide assistance to the maximum extent possible, the authors consider it appropriate to interpret the obligation of cooperation broadly to include such forms as extradition and mutual legal assistance in the prosecution of piracy crimes. The authors investigate the activities of international and regional organizations in the field of combating piracy and their proposed methods and mechanisms aimed at reducing crime on the high seas. The initiatives proposed by the Russian Federation to combat piracy are being considered.
Water allocation sustainability assessment in climate change: a modeling approach using water footprint and just policy
Authors: Imani Somaye , Niksokhan Mohammad Hossein , Delavar Majid , Safari Shali Reza
Published: October 2023

Climate change has challenged water allocation for food production in water-scarce areas. This fact calls for water reallocation (RA) strategies in basins with dominant agriculture. This study develops a framework combining the SWAT model and water footprint (WF) to evaluate water resource sustainability and improve its indices by fair RA from agriculture. The Karkheh River Basin in Iran was chosen as a study area for verification. Deficit irrigation (DI) was a farm strategy to promote basin sustainability and maintain food security. DI was distributed according to the equality of resources, proposed by Ronald Dworkin, as a just allocation principle. It means irrigated water would be allocated based on an equal water ratio per hectare. Results showed that the basin is currently unsustainable regarding the groundwater (BkWS) and surface flow (BuWS). According to the SSP5-8.5 scenario, the BuWS in the basin increases from 1.12 to 1.22 (9%), and BkWS increases from 2 to 2.15 (7.5%), while GnWS remains relatively constant at 0.99. By Dworkin's principle, DI caused 21-48% reduction in water allocation among five provinces. RA improved the BuWS, GnWS, and BkWS and ensured environmental flow. Climate change reduces 3.5% of food production, with an extra 9% by RA. These reductions would not endanger food security.
Consumo de turismo e lazer: uma análise sobre o público LGBTQIA+ em Teresina/PI
Authors: da Silva Nascimento Laércio Ramon , Rabelo Neto Alexandre , Vargas da Silveira Shaiane
Published: October 2023

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo identificar aspectos relacionados ao consumo do lazer e turismo do púbico LGBTQIA+ em Teresina/PI. Com o propósito de compreender as perspectivas do consumidor, seus aspectos econômicos, dinâmicos social LGBTQIA+. Partindo desse cenário no qual expõe duas vertentes sobre o perfil de consumo da comunidade LGBTQIA+, um lado o lazer é compreendido como uma ação estritamente ligada ao entretenimento e ao lucro de mercado. De outro lado, se expressa na busca inclusão social como forma de cultura e criação de identidade cultural (Moreira; Campos, 2019), foi que emergiu o interesse na problemática em questão. Esta pesquisa se caracteriza- como exploratória, descritiva, de natureza, predominantemente qualitativa (Bardin, 2011). Como instrumento metodológico, optou-se por entrevista estruturada, destinada a três sujeitos da comunidade LGBTQIA+. Para a análise dos resultados, considerou que junto a isso foi possível confrontá-los junto a literatura, o estudo teve direcionamento pelos streamings de buscas nas plataformas de pesquisas, consideradas a partir da análise previa de estudos já realizando sobre essa linha de estudo. Nos resultados obtidos foi possível identificar que, a oferta do Lazer e do Turismo em Teresina, na percepção dos entrevistados (as), é necessária avançar um pouco mais, principalmente, no que concerne à diversificação dessa oferta, a consolidação da identidade cultura, e no combatendo ao desrespeito e preconceito. Apreende-se que, as ações que movimentem a comunidade LGBTQIA+ necessitam de articulações do poder público e da iniciativa privada, para que ambas se complementem, na busca do atendimento às demandas históricas, sociais, políticas, culturais e econômicas do público LGBTQIA+.
Czynniki kształtujące poziom wiedzy na temat wcześniactwa u rodziców dotkniętych tym problemem
Authors: Kleczewska Małgorzata
Published: October 2023

Wstęp. Przyjście na świat dziecka jest dla rodziców powodem ogromnej radości i szczęścia. Wszystko się zmienia, kiedy do porodu dochodzi przed planowanym terminem. Rodzicom towarzyszy poczucie lęku i bezradności. Czują się zagubieni i przerażeni, szczególnie kiedy dziecko trafia w oddział intensywnej terapii medycznej, gdzie walczy o życie. Zostają otoczeni opieką personelu medycznego, który edukuje, wspiera oraz przekazuje odpowiednie wskazówki na temat pielęgnacji. Edukacja jest prowadzona w zależności od oceny stanu wiedzy rodziców.

Cel. Celem pracy jest ocena poziomu wiedzy rodziców dzieci urodzonych przedwcześnie i hospitalizowanych w oddziałach Kliniki Neonatologii. Starano się wyróżnić czynniki wpływające na poziom wiedzy dotyczący wcześniactwa.

Materiał i metody. Badaniem objęto grupę 174 rodziców (w tym 162 matki i 12 ojców). Wiek respondentów mieścił się w przedziale od 22 do 54 lat. Przeciętny wiek badanych wynosił 32 lata. W pracy wykorzystano metodę sondażu diagnostycznego, stosując kwestionariusz ankiety własnego autorstwa. W narzędziu zastosowano 30 pytań skierowanych zarówno do matek jak i ojców.

Wyniki. Analiza statystyczna zebranego materiału potwierdziła istnienie związku, iż rodzice z wyższym wykształceniem wykazują się wysokim poziomem wiedzy na temat przyczyn porodu przedwczesnego, wcześniaka oraz powikłań związanych z tym okresem. Pozostali respondenci posiadali ogólną wiedzę na temat procedur obowiązujących w oddziałach neonatologicznych takich, jak podawanie surfaktantu, kangurowanie czy laktacja, niezależnie od miejsca zamieszkania czy wieku. Większość badanych wskazywała fundacje jako najbardziej powszechne źródło pomocy i wsparcia rodzicom wcześniaków.

Wnioski. Rodzice z wyższym wykształceniem reprezentowali wyższy poziom wiedzy na temat przyczyn porodu przedwczesnego, wcześniaka oraz powikłań związanych z tym okresem. Natomiast wieloródki w przeprowadzonych badaniach własnych nie wykazywały się statystycznie wyższym poziomem wiedzy aniżeli matki posiadające pierwsze dziecko. Badani respondenci posiadają ogólną wiedzę na temat procedur obowiązujących w oddziałach neonatologicznych i nie było to zależne od miejsca zamieszkania czy wieku, jednak ci z wyższym wykształceniem oraz posiadający dziecko o masie urodzeniowej poniżej 1500 gram wykazali się wiedzą z tego tematu bardziej szczegółową. Ważną rolę wspierającą i edukacyjną wobec rodziców stanowiły pielęgniarki i położne. Oprócz tego istotnym źródłem wsparcia i pomocy w opiniach badanych były fundacje, dlatego należałoby rozpowszechniać wiedzę o różnych formach wsparcia i zachęcać do podejmowania współpracy z nimi.
Wkłucie centralne – implantacja i ryzyko rozwoju zakażeń
Authors: Kamiński Dawid , Rożniakowski Jakub
Published: October 2023

Wstęp. Zastosowanie Centralnych Cewników Naczyniowych (CVC) w trakcie leczenia pacjentów krytycznie chorych, ale także wymagających długotrwałego leczenia staje się standardem. Zastosowanie CVC pozwala na podaż płynów infuzyjnych, środków farmakologicznych oraz żywienia pozajelitowego. Dobór metody implantacji cewnika centralnego oraz jego rodzaj powinien opierać się wskazaniach klinicznych, przeznaczeniu a także na komforcie pacjenta. Niwelowanie czynników ryzyka rozwoju zakażeń zmniejsza generowane przez pacjenta koszty, ale również skraca jego czas pobytu w szpitalu.

Cel. Celem pracy jest przedstawienie rodzajów cewników centralnych, wskazań oraz metod implantacji (CVC), a także wskazanie powikłań wynikających z kaniulacji naczyń centralnych. Niniejsza praca zawiera także informacje dotyczące zasad pielęgnacji wkłucia centralnego, dobrej praktyki pielęgniarskiej i jej wpływu na niwelowanie czynników zakażeń wynikających z implantacji (CVC).

Materiał i metody. Metodą zastosowaną w pracy jest analiza literatury.

Przegląd. Częścią codziennej opieki nad chorym jest sprawowanie nadzoru pielęgniarskiego nad cewnikiem naczyniowym którego obecność w ciele pacjenta jest nieodzownym elementem pobytu w szpitalu.

Wnioski. Wkłucia centralne są nieodłącznym elementem leczenia pacjentów krytycznie chorych w oddziałach intensywnej terapii. Żywotność wkłucia w dużej mierze zależy od postępowania personelu pielęgniarskiego, co przekłada się na wiedzę personelu odnośnie do zasad pielęgnacji cewników centralnych.