bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of morphological disorders of the liver depending on the bilirubin count in patients with obstructive jaundice
Authors: Kanikovskyi O. Y. , Karyi Y. V. , Dovgan I. P. , Chereshniuk I. L. , Shypitsyna O. V.
Published: October 2024

Annotation. According to WHO, obstructive jaundice (OJ) is observed in 10-15% of the world's population. The choice of bile duct decompression technique and timing depends not only on the duration of OJ and also on the bilirubin count in the blood. The study of morphological disorders of the liver in cases of various bilirubin count in patients with OJ, will prevent post-decompression liver dysfunction and the development of biliary cirrhosis. The aim – to study morphological disorders of the liver depending on the bilirubin count in patients with obstructive jaundice. 30 OJ patients were subdivided into three groups. Group I (n = 10) included patients with a bilirubin count less than 100 μmol/l, Group II (n = 10) consisted of patients with hyperbilirubinemia from 100 to 200 μmol/l, and Group III (n = 10) included patients with a bilirubin count over 200 μmol/l. The microscopic structure of the liver parenchyma was studied using an OLIMPUS BX41 light microscope at magnifications of 100, 200 times. Morphometric parameters of structural changes were determined using software (Quick Foto Micro 2.3). Sample data were compared using Student's t-test at p<0.95. In the Group I patients, morphological disorders in the liver consisted in: centrilobular cholestasis, inflammatory infiltration of the stroma. In patients of the Group II, structural disorders in the liver were associated with the development of: cholestatic hepatitis, dystrophy and small focal necrosis of hepatocytes, initial fibrosis. In the Group IІI patients, morphological disorders in the liver consisted in: severe centrilobular cholestasis, dystrophy and large focal necrosis of hepatocytes, severe fibrosis, development of liver cirrhosis. Morphological disorders of the liver in OJ patients with a bilirubin count less than 100 μmol/l were reversed. In OJ patients with hyperbilirubinemia from 100 to 200 μmol/l, structural disorders in the liver had both a reversible and an irreversible course. Morphological hepatic disorders in OJ patients with a bilirubin count over 200 μmol/l was observed the irreversible course.
Role of antimicrobial activity of collagenase-based ointment in the treatment of infected wounds in experiment
Authors: Rautskis V. P. , Khimich S. D.
Published: October 2024

Annotation. Infection is the main cause of delay in the normal healing process of any type of wounds. Due to the negative impact of microorganisms on the wound healing process, antimicrobial activity is a necessary component of modern topical medication for wound treatment. Aim – to study the antimicrobial effect of a medicinal ointment based on collagenase (Iruksan) on typical pathogens of wound infection and to compare it with other medications for the treatment of purulent-necrotic wounds. The antimicrobial properties of the studied agents were evaluated by diffusion method, the minimum bacteriostatic and bactericidal concentrations, the rate of disinfection of artificially contaminated test objects were determined. To reproduce a wound infection in experimental rats, a wound was modeled and contaminated with a pathogenic strain of Staphylococcus aureus in combination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are typical pathogens of wound infection in surgical patients. After a day, the number of test microorganisms of both species in the contents of the wounds was approximately the same in experimental animals of all groups (6.6±0.1 - 6.9±0.1 lg CFU/ml). On the 3rd day from the start of treatment, a tendency to a decrease in the number of staphylococci and pseudomonads was observed in the groups of animals treated with the use of Miramistin and Iruxan ointments, in comparison with animals of the control group (p>0.05). On the 7th day, the number of staphylococci and pseudomonads was lower in groups of animals treated with Miramistin and Iruxan – 3.5±0.4 P. a., 4.8±0.1 S. a. and 2.3±0.64 P. a., 4.8±0.2 S. a. (p<0.05) than in the control group. Therefore, Iruksan ointment, despite the lower concentration in the composition of the Miramistin antiseptic (2000 μg/ml), has a pronounced antimicrobial activity due to the presence of a proteolytic enzyme – collagenase, which causes the lysis of necrotic tissues and mechanically cleans the wound surface from the studied pathogens.
Congenital heart defects and Eisenmenger's syndrome in adults - diagnostic difficulties (clinical case)
Authors: Cherkasova O. , Krykhtina M.
Published: October 2024

Annotation. Diagnoses of congenital heart disease (CHD) in cardiology are often hidden under the mask of other, more common cardiovascular diseases (CVD), so some defects may remain undiagnosed for a long time. A feature of patients with atrial septal defect (ASD) ASD is that Eisenmenger's syndrome develops later, compared to other heart defects, so it is often detected already in adulthood. The purpose of the work was to analyze the clinical course of Eisenmenger's syndrome against the background of ASD, to summarize data on the features of the clinical course, problematic issues of diagnosis and treatment of these conditions in adults. On the example of a clinical case, diagnostic problems that doctors may face are presented: a clinic of chronic respiratory failure and changes on an X-ray that can be mistaken for pulmonary pathology; problems with visualization of the right-left blood flow on echocardiography, as the shunt may be unstable at rest. All these difficulties can lead to untimely diagnosis and, accordingly, delay in treatment. Therefore, early diagnosis of CHD is an important task of the doctor to reduce the risk of late hemodynamic complications, which makes it possible to perform timely surgical intervention to increase the duration and quality of life of a patient with VBS.
Breast cancer among the male population: clinical-epidemiological and pathological analysis
Authors: Artemenko V. O. , Sazonova S. O. , Berezovskyi A. M. , Chernykh M. O. , Kutelmakh O. I. , Benediktova N. V. , Liutkevych A. S.
Published: October 2024

Annotation. Breast cancer (BC) among men is an actual problem today. The aim of this study was to describe breast cancer cases in men according to age, stage and histologic type of tumor, calculate risks and compare changes in these indicators in women. It was also planned to investigate the impact of feminizing hormone therapy on the risk of breast cancer and to determine the pathogenesis of such tumors in transgender women. Absolute numbers and proportions, the Mann-Whitney test, and prevalence rates with 95% confidence intervals were used. The study included 45356 subjects, 517 of them were men. Ductal carcinoma and its variants were the most common histologic types in both sexes (88.8% in men and 89.0% in women). Men had a higher frequency of uncommon histologic types, such as papillary carcinoma. In summary, men were diagnosed with breast cancer at an older age and at later stages. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most common histologic type. The absolute overall risk of breast cancer in transgender people remains low, and therefore transgender people who use hormone treatment should follow the screening recommendations as for cisgender people.
Dynamics of changes in the diameter of the great saphenous vein in the postoperative period in patients operated on using non-thermal methods
Authors: Petrushenko V. V. , Goncharenko D. P. , Grebeniuk D. I.
Published: October 2024

Annotation. The article presents the results of a prospective analysis of the data obtained by determining the change in the diameter of the great saphenous vein on the lower extremities in patients with varicose veins of the lower extremities who were operated on using non-thermal techniques. The present study highlights two non-thermal techniques that were used, namely: “Flebogrif” and “VenaSeal”. Also, the difference in the diameter of the great saphenous vein at different treatment periods was analyzed: before surgery, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after surgery. To determin`e the diameter of the great saphenous vein, an ultrasound method was used. The data we obtained were processed using the Microsoft Office for Windows office suite for working with various types of data. The data obtained as a result of statistical processing indicate that both techniques are effective in the surgical treatment of patients suffering from varicose veins of the lower extremities. Both techniques, in both groups, demonstrated a positive effect of reducing the diameter of the great saphenous vein in the postoperative period, at each of the control stages. The data obtained allow us to better understand the effectiveness of the use of non-thermal treatment methods in patients suffering from varicose veins of the lower extremities.
The influence of scorpion venom on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (review)
Authors: Kobzina-Didukh D. S.
Published: October 2024

Annotation. Scorpion venom is an important subject of research because of its potential impact on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which plays a key role in regulating the body's stress response. Studying this effect may contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of stress and endocrine disorders. The purpose of this study is to review modern scientific sources devoted to the study of scorpion venom on the organs of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. For this, a search for literary sources related to the research topic in the period 2014-2024 was performed on the basis of Google Scholar, Scopus using keywords and inclusion/exclusion criteria, in particular, the presence of previous review of articles, the representativeness of the sample, and the presence of statistical analysis of the obtained data. An analysis of the literature on the effects of scorpion venom on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis revealed several key aspects. First, the presence of specific biological mechanisms through which venom components affect the activity of this axis, including the secretion of corticosteroids, adrenocorticotropic hormone, or other stress hormones, has been confirmed. Secondly, the results of the analysis indicated the possible therapeutic prospects of using individual components of the venom to regulate the work of this system, which may be important in the treatment of various endocrine and stress disorders. Finally, the analysis helped identify gaps in existing research and outline directions for further experiments, which will contribute to a deeper understanding of the effects of scorpion venom on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Effect of Microclimate to Bat Diversity in Mangrove Forest of Brgy. Tubajon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines (Mammalia Chiroptera)
Authors: Relox Richel E. , Eugenio Christine Mae M. , Imperial Flonica F. , Raut Aira Jayne L.
Published: October 2024

Bat diversity is declining in the country because of habitat loss. Hence, an assessment study of the environmental factors affecting bat diversity was conducted in mangrove forest of Tubajon, Misamis Oriental. Quadrat sampling and mist-netting were used to assess mangroves and bats respectively, and mapped using the Geographic Information System (GIS). Shannon Diversity Index was used for both mangroves and bats while the Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Canonical Correspondence Coefficient were used to correlate bats with rainfall, temperature and humidity. Results showed that there are two species of mangroves, namely Rhizophora mucronata and Rhizophora apiculata, and three species of bats, namely Cynopterus brachyotis, Macroglossus minimus, and Ptenochirus minor, in the site. Mangroves and bats obtained the diversity index of 0.6428 and 1.018 respectively. Among the three species of bats, only C. brachyotis has relationship with humidity with a result of 0.04065. Thus, bats in the area highly depend on the quality of the habitat with low diversity of mangroves and varied climatic factors.
Changes in the photosynthetic apparatus in fruit trees during stressful periods
Authors: Mema Matilda , Kriso Kejda
Published: October 2024

The amount of solar radiation absorbed by the leaf is a function of the photosynthetic pigments it contains. Chlorophyll provides an indirect estimate of nutritional status because most of the nitrogen in leaves is incorporated into chlorophyll. The measurements were carried out with three types of leaves (sun, partial shade and shade) for Santa Maria (pear) variety (Tirana region, Albania) in two areas, under and above water. The reflectance values in the 400–800nm wavelength provide the opportunity to determine the parameters that evaluate the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus of fruit trees in two different areas in the same period.
E. Boratynsky’s poem ‘The Stillborn’ [‘Nedonosok’] in the context of Slavic mythology
Authors: Korshunkov V. A.
Published: October 2024

The article deals with E. Boratynsky’s poem about a spirit of a nonviable nedonosok, or stillborn, drifting between heaven and earth. Scholars have noted the poem’s affinity with works of Dante and Goethe, as well as Plato’s philosophy and the Old Testament. The present study considers the poem’s system of motifs and images in comparison with concepts found in folklore and mythology. The East Slavs believed premature or stillborn babies to be dangerous creatures. They emerged from the ‘other world’ and were ‘unclean.’ For that reason, an infant’s christening was a crucial means to humanize the baby. Unbaptized children (preterm or stillborn) were trapped in the air between heaven and earth. They were feared along with the rest of ‘unclean forces,’ e. g., spirits of sorcerers and sinners. Barred from entering heaven and restless, their existence was an agony that made others suffer as well. Boratynsky poetically interprets a popular superstition about a ‘wrongful’ or ‘bad’ death and its consequences for an infant who was forced out of this world unbaptized. These archaic topics and imagery, among others, inspired the poet’s religious and philosophical reflections.
Welcome speech at the opening of the international scientific conference
Authors: Abbasov A. M. ogly
Published: October 2024

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LAND GOVERNANCE; FACTS AND EFFECTS. CASE OF THE CITY OF TAHER (WILAYA OF JIJEL IN EASTERN ALGERIA)
Authors: Bougassa Abdelhafid
Published: October 2024

All religious laws and man-made laws call for the preservation and sustainability of natural resources, including land as an irreplaceable element.Compliance of land use with the guidelines of development and town planning instruments is a basic principle in land use. This rule of good governance leads to the protection of the environment, natural resources and the preservation of the natural, cultural and socio-economic heritage marking a given territory. Aware of this reality, the Algerian state anticipated this problem early on through the promulgation of laws and regulations governing territorial management, the occupation of urban land and the protection of the environment within the framework of sustainable development.However, the divide between land allocations and its use on the scale of certain urban areas on the eastern outskirts of the city of Jijel gives food for thought on the reliability and feasibility of urban planning instruments in the control of land management. . This deficiency is manifested by the disorderly extension of the built environment, the consumption of natural, forest and agricultural space. This trend, accompanied by the increase in population, generates increasing needs for equipment and amenities and difficulties in the management of all types of waste produced.Taking the case of the city of Taher as a study framework, the decadence of heritage wealth (social way of life, agricultural activities, low population and construction density, hygiene and environmental balance) can increase on board be noticed in view of the areas withdrawn annually from natural landscapes and agriculture. In order to control urbanization and meet the needs for individual housing, the municipality of Taher has planned several subdivisions in accordance with the town planning plan. Despite the fact that the majority of designated land bases are of a public legal nature, these operations for individual residential use have been abandoned under the effect of constraints and disputes. As a result, the land areas in question are invaded by constructions which do not necessarily meet town planning standards and land use rules.
NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS' IMPACT ON URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY: A CASE STUDY OF AIN BEIDA CITY, ALGERIA
Authors: Nassira Guemini  , Foued Benghadbane
Published: October 2024

The city of Ain Beida struggles with a complex interplay of natural and technical characteristics that significantly influence its urban development, environmental quality, and overall sustainability. The city's natural components present both opportunities and challenges for urban planning and development. This paper explores the impacts of these factors on urban development and environmental quality. Additionally, it delves into the consequences of natural characteristics on urban development policies, addressing the dilemma between preserving green spaces and the imperative for urban expansion. Artificial obstacles pose challenges to urban expansion and impact security, as well as overall environmental health. Furthermore, the paper discusses the risks associated with natural and technological elements emphasising the importance of safety measures and emergency response protocols. The urban development policies of Ain Beida have undergone a shift primarily driven by limited land availability. Urban densification, aimed at optimizing land use, has been adopted, but it comes with environmental trade-offs. Considering the challenges and opportunities identified, the paper concludes with a set of recommendations.
RESPOSTAS FISIOLÓGICAS E DE DESEMPENHO DE NOVILHAS DA RAÇA JERSEY EM PASTAGEM COM E SEM ACESSO À SOMBRA
Authors: De Conto Leandro , Moreira Sheilla Madruga , Moraes Renata , Júmior Odirley Gonçalves , Zanusso Jerri Teixeira , Ferreira Otoniel Geter Lauz , Silveira Isabella Dias Barbosa
Published: October 2024

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de dois ambientes (com sombra e sem sombra), em pastejo de milheto, sobre as respostas fisiológicas e do desempenho de novilhas da Raça Jersey, em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com dez repetições (animais). Foram utilizadas 20 novilhas puras de origem com idade entre 12 e 14 meses e peso vivo médio de 198,35 ± 28,7 kg. Como variáveis fisiológicas foram avaliadas a frequência respiratória e a temperatura de superfície de pelame às 8:00h, 13:00h e 18:00h. O desempenho animal foi avaliado através de pesagem dos animais no início e ao término do experimento. Houve diferença significativa (P=0,0026) entre as horas do dia para frequência respiratória, com maiores valores às 13:00h. Para temperatura de superfície de pelame, houve efeito da interação tratamento x hora do dia (P=0,0001), com maiores valores às 13:00h no tratamento sem acesso à sombra e às 8:00h e 18:00h no tratamento com acesso à sombra. Os animais com acesso à sombra obtiveram maiores ganhos de peso diários (P=0,0038). Novilhas da raça Jersey recriadas em pastagem, no verão, têm a frequência respiratória e a temperatura de superfície de pelame alteradas, porém a níveis de estresse moderados e de rápido reestabelecimento. No entanto, valores suficientes para prejudicar seu ganho de peso, quando não há sombra disponível.
Learning assistance for students with special needs at SLB Kirana Hati Bunda, Tamiajeng Village, Trawas District
Authors: Marodiyah Inggit , Puspitasari Natasya Dwi , Anggraeni Dhita , Mufidah Risa’ida Dwi , Saniyyah Layyinatus , Maharani Yusrilda
Published: October 2024

The purpose of this community service is to help provide learning assistance to students at SLB Kirana Hati Bunda Tamiajeng Village. The service activities carried out at Kirana Hati Bunda SLB use a hands-on method. This activity was carried out well and smoothly. With this service activity, it provides a more enjoyable and effective learning experience and can provide additional support for students.
Enhancing counseling services quality through technology-based student problem identification training
Authors: Rachmawati Indriyana , Triyanto Agus , Purnama Diana Septi , Prehadini Tampi
Published: October 2024

Guidance and counseling teachers must adapt to technological advancements to effectively deliver assistance services, including assessment. To streamline student support, these educators need to enhance their ability to provide services. This community service aims to improve guidance and counseling teachers' skills in assessing counselee problems using information technology-based models within schools. The process involves determining training needs, conducting training, and evaluating its impact. This initiative successfully enhanced teachers' capacity to accurately identify student issues through technology, leading to more targeted interventions.
Digital marketing communication education for PKK community in Simpang Kanan Village, Tanggamus Regency
Authors: Sasora Fajar , Putubasai Erwin , Rauf Eka Ubaya Taruna , Sodirin Sodirin , Dewi Ade Sandra , Nelson Nelson
Published: October 2024

Digital marketing communication has become essential for home-based businesswomen, particularly those involved in PKK (Family Welfare Empowerment Program). In Simpang Kanan Village, there is a low level of knowledge among PKK members regarding technology, especially digital marketing. Almost all PKK members market their products directly, limiting their market reach. This community service aimed to educate the partners about digital marketing communication to increase product sales. The methods used were socialization, practice, and mentoring. The results show that 70% of PKK members have improved their understanding of digital marketing communication, enabling them to create persuasive messages and utilize social media for product marketing.
Comprehensive cholesterol screening: A preventive measure for heart disease at Pusaka Aji Kalibayem Healthy Heart Club
Authors: Setiana Mira , Ferawati Bangkit Ina
Published: October 2024

High cholesterol is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease often overlooked by the public. This community service aimed to increase public awareness among members of the Pusaka Aji Kalibayem Healthy Heart Club. By enhancing public knowledge about the importance of cholesterol checks, this initiative sought to prevent and early detect cardiovascular disease. The program encompassed health education, cholesterol screenings, and health consultations. A comprehensive cholesterol check program was conducted involving 35 members of the club. Results indicated a substantial increase in public awareness of cholesterol and its associated risks following participation. Before the program, only 25% of participants were aware of the need for regular cholesterol checks, which rose to 81% post-intervention. The comprehensive cholesterol check program at Pusaka Aji Kalibayem Healthy Heart Club effectively raised public awareness about cholesterol monitoring. Similar initiatives can be implemented in other communities to reduce cardiovascular disease risk through early detection and increased awareness.
Handwashing with soap training for elementary school children along the Martapura riverbank
Authors: Khatimah Husnul , Fakhrurrazy Fakhrurrazy , Muttaqien Fauzan , Ulfah Fahrina , Khairiyah Siti , Yuliana Ida , Maulana Irfan
Published: October 2024

Handwashing with soap, when practiced correctly, is the simplest and most effective way to prevent the spread of fecal-oral and other diseases among children. One of the national elementary school health programs is handwashing with soap (CTPS). Therefore, the purpose of this community service activity is to improve the handwashing skills of elementary school children living near the Martapura River. The methods used were lectures with question-and-answer sessions, demonstrations, focus group discussions, and practice. The results of this activity showed an increase in understanding and skills related to CTPS, so that children know the benefits and procedures.
DUA y TIC: oportunidades para la educación patrimonial en las aulas de primaria
Authors: López-Mondéjar Loida , López-Mondéjar Leticia
Published: October 2024

Introducción: El presente trabajo pretende profundizar en las conexiones entre los principios del Diseño Universal para el Aprendizaje, las TIC y la educación patrimonial. Dos son los objetivos planteados en el mismo: 1) explorar el potencial de las TIC para trabajar la educación patrimonial en primaria siguiendo el modelo de enseñanza DUA, y 2) seleccionar herramientas específicas para implementar actividades con el patrimonio atendiendo a los principios del DUA. Metodología: El trabajo analiza los distintos recursos incluidos en la rueda DUA v.4 atendiendo a cinco criterios específicos. A partir de los mismos se seleccionan aquellas nueve aplicaciones que facilitan el trabajo con el patrimonio cultural en primaria integrando los principios del DUA. Resultados y discusión: El estudio de los distintos recursos indicados permite poner de manifiesto el potencial de las TIC para abordar, desde los principios y pautas del DUA, la educación patrimonial entre el alumnado de primaria, así como identificar aquellas herramientas más efectivas para ello. Conclusiones: Las herramientas seleccionadas proporcionan a los estudiantes distintos medios de expresión y acción, representación e implicación, fomentando los vínculos con el patrimonio de un modo eficaz y desde el respeto por la singularidad de cada niño.
Inteligencia artificial en la gestión de proyectos: caso construcción y obra civil
Authors: Jaimes-Quintanilla María Alejandra , Zabala-Vargas Sergio
Published: October 2024

Introducción: El presente documento relaciona una investigación con el objetivo establecer los niveles de apropiación de tecnologías emergentes, principalmente inteligencia artificial, en la gestión de proyectos del sector de la construcción. Metodología: Se llevó a cabo una investigación cuantitativa centrada en una revisión de literatura internacional y la determinación del nivel de madurez tecnológica en la gestión de proyectos en el sector en Colombia. Se contó con la participación de 97 empresas.  Resultados: Los resultados muestran alto interés del sector productivo y de la comunidad académica en el uso de inteligencia artificial en la gestión de proyectos, priorizando áreas como costos, calidad, tiempos, alcance y riesgos. La incorporación de software con IA, LLM (Large Language Models) y procesamiento de grandes datos son priorizados. Discusión: Los resultados son consecuentes con una temática de interés incremental en la comunidad académica. Se viene desarrollando ampliamente los conceptos a nivel internacional y se proyecta consolidación en Colombia. Conclusiones: El sector de la construcción Colombia tiene un importante camino en la incorporación de tecnologías emergentes (Inteligencia artificial), sin embargo, existe el interés y disposición para realizarlo y aplicarlos en sus diferentes ciclos de vida de proyecto.
Приближение непрерывных функций с помощью классических синков и значений операторов Cλ
Authors: Пасечник В. Н.
Published: October 2024

Рассмотрены свойства синк-приближений. Используемые ранее классические синк-аппроксимации давали плохое приближение, а новый оператор, обобщающий синк-аппроксимации, справляется с приближением этой функции лучше. Приведен график численной реализации эксперимента. Библ. 22. Фиг 2.
Синтез оптимальной устойчивой аффинной системы
Authors: Ащепков Л. Т.
Published: October 2024

Предложен метод построения обратной связи, обеспечивающей притяжение траекторий аффинной системы к состоянию равновесия и заданному многообразию. Искомая обратная связь находится в аналитической форме как решение вспомогательной задачи оптимального управления. Приведены достаточные условия существования оптимального управления. Показано применение метода к некоторым классам линейных и нелинейных систем. Библ. 10.
Discussion on pre-Columbian contacts between East Asia and South America: some anniversaries
Authors: Kovaleva N. N , Tabarev A. V
Published: October 2024

The article reviews the history of the evolution of views on the origins of pottery on the South American continent, since the birth of the Jomon-Valdivia hypothesis and the events that preceded and contributed to it, the reports and participants of the 31st International Congress of Americanists in 1954, dedicated to the cultures of the Pacific coast. Special attention is paid to the research of the Real Alto site in 1974 and, for this reason, new versions of the origin of ceramics in South America and the contribution of Russian scientists to this discussion.
Relations between the USSR and Latin America by the view of soviet diplomat Yuri Pavlov
Authors: Kopeikin M. A
Published: October 2024

The article examines a historical source of personal origin – an interview with former Soviet diplomat Yuri Ivanovich Pavlov, given by him in 1999 to the US National Security Archive. Diplomats are the guides of the state's foreign policy. Their role has been high at all times, it became especially important during the Cold War, when the fate of the whole world depended on the activities of diplomats of two antagonistic blocs – NATO and the ATS. If such sources from NATO countries are presented in sufficient detail and relatively everywhere, then in the case of our country the situation is completely different. Diplomats and employees of the foreign ministry do not leave and/or publish any of their memories or give interviews very often. Therefore, the study of sources left over from diplomats is incredibly important for understanding exactly how employees of foreign ministries treated their work, assessed the actions of their countries, and, in general, reflected. There are not many published sources left from the diplomats of the Soviet period, especially the Cold War period, especially those diplomats who were connected with Latin America. Thus, the interest in Yuri Pavlov's interview increases even more. The interview gives a view from the side of a diplomat with 37 years of experience on the entire foreign policy of the USSR in Latin America from the founding of the country to the collapse of the state. Also, in the responses of Yuri Pavlov, the sentiments of that group of diplomats who were disappointed in the Soviet Union and its policies both inside and outside the country resonated. Pavlov's life itself shows how the community of diplomats changed in their views: from convinced communists in the 1950s. (and Pavlov's service began in 1954), before the liberals-"sixties", who treat their Homeland as negatively as possible.
Civil society in Latin America and the world: the experience of discussion
Authors: DIAKOVA L. V
Published: October 2024

We present to the readers' attention a review of the introductions of the participants of the "Round Table" dedicated to the activities and international cooperation of civil society organizations in Latin America and the modern world.
Model Pembelajaran Tebak Kata Untuk Menghafal Mufrodat Bahasa Arab Siswa MAN Pematang Siantar
Authors: Damanik Nissa Zahra Silmy , Nasution Sahkholid
Published: October 2024

Bahasa Arab telah ditetapkan oleh Allah SWT sebagai bahasa yang digunakan dalam ritual ibadah Islam dan sebagai sarana pemersatu umat Muslim di seluruh dunia. Untuk memahami bahasa ini dengan baik, penguasaan kosa kata menjadi faktor yang sangat penting. Berdasarkan penelitian mengenai pembelajaran kosa kata bahasa Arab (mufradat) pada siswa di Madrasah Aliyah Negeri (MAN) Pematang Siantar, ditemukan bahwa rendahnya penguasaan mufradat siswa disebabkan oleh penggunaan model pembelajaran yang kurang sesuai dengan tujuan dan konten pembelajaran. Beberapa guru bahasa Arab mampu memilih model pembelajaran yang tepat, tetapi kurang berhasil dalam penerapannya, sehingga siswa mengalami kesulitan dalam mempelajari bahasa Arab. Hal ini terlihat dari kurangnya antusiasme siswa dalam mengikuti pelajaran bahasa Arab dan perhatian mereka terhadap guru selama proses pembelajaran. Jika siswa sudah memiliki persepsi negatif tersebut, mereka akan menjadi kurang bersemangat atau malas dalam mengikuti pelajaran bahasa Arab, yang akhirnya berdampak pada rendahnya penguasaan kosa kata. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan penguasaan kosa kata bahasa Arab (mufradat) pada siswa MAN Pematang Siantar melalui penerapan model pembelajaran Tebak Kata. Hasil penelitian menyimpulkan bahwa model pembelajaran tebak kata efektif dalam meningkatkan kemampuan menghafal mufradat siswa dengan beberapa kelebihan dan kekurangan.
On Being Called by Plants
Authors: Ryan John C.
Published: October 2024

This article brings the emerging ecohumanistic idea of ‘phytopoetics’ into dialogue with the established scientific concept of the ‘phytosphere’ to understand poetry concerning human-flora interdependencies. Developing a phytospheric framework, I analyse poetry of the root-soil interface (rhizosphere), leaves (phyllosphere) and plants’ interior domain (endosphere). Countering a view of flora as passive, phytospherically contoured poetry foregrounds the agencies of plants within their multifaceted spheres of relation. I ground the article’s theoretical assertions in an examination of the rhizospheric poetics of Louise Glück and Brenda Hillman; phyllosperic poetics of Ted Hughes and Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner; and endospheric poetics of Michael McClure and the Microcosms project. In addition to its ecological function, the phytosphere is a nexus of language propagation and catalyst of identification with vegetal life. Shaped by phytospheric delineations, contemporary phytopoems particularise plants, liberating vegetal life from the backdrop of consciousness and enabling the human to be called by plants in their own voices.
Plant Parts
Authors: Jacobs Joela
Published: October 2024

While the natural sciences and the humanities were not always as separate as they appear today, language has connected them inextricably throughout history. Terminology for plant parts such as root, leaf, stem, flower and fruit have been operative across disciplines both as references to actual vegetal matter and as tropes that carry and continue to take on new metaphorical, allegorical, symbolic and topological meanings that go beyond the strictly botanical. By exemplarily examining five such tropes, this article maps these discursive networks of meaning and their phytopoetic resonances, showing how plants have shaped human thought and culture.
Plant Worlds
Authors: Sullivan Heather I.
Published: October 2024

Plant communities create and enable most of Earth’s living worlds by shaping ecological water and airflows, producing energy and matter through photosynthesis, and linking into vast, interconnected mycorrhizal fungal networks of communication to form interactive, multispecies, and distributive intelligences. We all live in various plant-formed worlds, an under-acknowledged fact in many extractivist cultures today. This essay briefly compares three works of science fiction featuring alien forest worlds that focus specifically on world-shaping vegetal power in which human or humanoid beings exist: Ursula K. Le Guin’s 1972 The Word for World is Forest, Alan Dean Foster’s 1975 Midworld and Marcus Hammerschitt’s 1998 German novel, Target. These three texts immerse the reader in alien forest worlds dominated by plants that human beings try to exploit with various forms of failure. From these explicit failures in otherworldly realms, we find narrative options for reimagining our relationships and resonances with our own powerful vegetal beings back on Earth.
New German-language Nature Writing and the Language of Resonance and Reflection
Authors: Duerbeck Gabriele , Lu Yixu
Published: October 2024

Nature writing is traditionally a genre of non-fictional, essayistic writing which combines vivid natural descriptions, profound introspection and ethical musings. Since 2000, the New Nature Writing (NNW) has emerged in Europe rejecting the escapist, heroic and sometimes nationalist conventions of the original American genre. This article analyses three examples from German New Nature Writing (NNW) from the early 2000s: Laubwerk. Zur Poetik des Stadtbaums (‘The Poetics of the Urban Tree’) by Marion Poschmann (2018), Hafen von Greifswald (‘Port of Greifswald’) by Judith Schalansky (2018), and Wurzelstudien (‘Root Studies’) by Anna Ospelt (2020). As with its British counterpart, German NNW is characterised by ‘an attitude of mindfulness’ (Goldstein 2018) and a poetic perception of nature, and is filled with ‘protest energy’ (Fischer 2019). Our paper will argue that, despite the very distinct approaches of the authors, these texts demonstrate an astonishing similarity in their quest for a ‘language of resonance’ between humans and the plant co-world and in their creation of new spaces of nature-cultural resonances.
Zoë Schlanger, 'The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth'
Authors: Porter Jayson Maurice
Published: October 2024

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Probabilistic Topology Optimization of Steel I-Beam Web Configurations Under Varied Load Positions
Authors: Habashneh Muayad , Movahedi Rad Majid
Published: October 2024

This study investigates the impact of uncertain load positions through an innovative optimization technique. It seamlessly integrates reliability-based design into the optimization of the structural topology, with a specific focus on the web portion of steel I-beams and including geometrical imperfection analysis. The study operates under the premise that the applied load is randomly positioned, engaging in a comprehensive probabilistic analysis. This methodology extends its considerations to additional factors, such as material properties, volume fraction, and geometric imperfections. The assumption of a normal distribution for each of these parameters aids in quantifying uncertainties. Moreover, the proposed work leverages the notion of plastic ultimate load multipliers to illustrate how the algorithm can improve the performance of steel beams. To evaluate the algorithm, the results of a benchmark problem were meticulously analyzed. While exploring the probabilistic nature of externally applied force positions, a numerical example was conducted involving a steel I-beam within the context of reliability-based imperfect geometry topology optimization. The outcomes of the proposed method underscore that the integration of probabilistic design significantly influences the topology optimization process.
Investigation of the Vertical Stability of Embedded Rail Structures
Authors: Major Zoltán , Jóvér Vivien , Németh Attila , Fischer Szabolcs
Published: October 2024

In the case of embedded rail structures, the rails are fixed with a flexible embedding material that runs through a specially designed steel or reinforced concrete channel. The majority of the rail cross-section is embedded in these channels, eliminating the possibility of horizontal buckling as a failure mode. This paper investigates vertical stability, aiming to determine the stability resistance of a rail loaded with an initial failure in the vertical plane while considering elastic resistance. Vertical plane buckling is assumed to be a non-hazard for conventional rails because the wide rail footing can significantly inhibit vertical displacement, even without adhesion between the rail surface and the embedding material. However, the adhesion of the embedding material to the channel is adequate. Some rail sections lack adhesion between the rail and the embedding material due to the narrow width of the rail foot, making the phenomenon of “form-locking” uncertain, or the rail is partially embedded. In this article, the authors present a theoretical calculation method to investigate this problem, to transfer the results to everyday practice as simply as possible, and to present a solution suitable for manual calculation. Measuring the vertical spring constant in the method’s input parameters under laboratory conditions is a difficult task, but by utilizing the possibilities provided by finite element modeling, the design can be significantly simplified. The introduced method has the significant advantage of quantifying the effect of vertical plane misalignments in the track compared to simpler solutions in the literature.
Finite Element Modelling of Polymer and Crumb Rubber Modifed Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Fahad Mohammad , Koren Csaba , Nagy Richard
Published: October 2024

Modification of asphalt binder with crumb rubber or SBS type polymer can further enhance the viscoelastic properties of asphalt mixtures in terms of reduced permanent deformation and increased operational temperature range. In this research, the effect of different variations of crumb rubber (CR) and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) consisting of Base asphalt, 4% SBS, 7% SBS, 7% CR, 15% CR and 20% have been analyzed in terms of rutting accumulation. This research is significant in terms of performance characteristics of CR and SBS modified mixtures, where based on availability and price of these modifiers, agencies can perform selection of either variations of these modifiers based on their requirement and standards in order to optimize the performance of asphalt pavements. Finite element analysis has been performed using ABAQUS, where a dual wheel having an axle load of 100 kN has been simulated with a total of 50,000 passes on a 2D model. Validated creep parameters using the Burger’s model have been utilized for simulation of material decay under creep loading for each variation. Visco step loading has been used to measure rutting progression. Results show increased rutting accumulation of base asphalt among other scenarios. Furthermore, CR-20 outperforms other variations in terms of rutting accumulation. Both CR-20 and SBS-7 yield the minimum rutting magnitude of 3.2 m and 3.3 mm respectively. SBS-7 leads to 39% less rutting magnitude when compared to that of base asphalt.
Discrete Element Modelling Analysis of Particle Breakage Criteria in Direct Shear Tests
Authors: Benmebarek Mohamed Amine , Movahedi Rad Majid , Benmebarek Sadok
Published: October 2024

Discrete Element Modelling (DEM), employing the replacement method, has been extensively utilized to investigate the micro and macroscopic behavior of soil with particle breakage. Despite numerous breakage criteria proposed in the literature, an agreement on the most appropriate criterion remains unclear. In this study, three-dimensional DEM analyses were conducted using Particle Flow Code (PFC3D) to assess stress distribution and identify potential locations of particle crushing during direct shear tests for coarse sand subjected to different high normal stresses. The investigation focused on employing a breakage criterion featuring Weibull distribution of particle strengths and considers the effect of particle size on average strength to predict the occurrence of fractures. Various breakage criteria, including major principal stress, mean stress, octahedral shear stress within a particle, and stress calculated from the maximum contact force on a particle, were each examined. The findings indicate that potential crushable particles were predominantly situated near diagonal shear band. Notably, results demonstrate that criteria based on octahedral shear stress and maximum contact force prove more effective in accurately reproducing the concentration of crushed particles near the shear band.
Non-Square Inverse Function Jacobians in Controlled Multibody Systems: Numerical and Application Examples
Authors: Zelei Ambrus
Published: October 2024

When control algorithms of robots are constructed, the joint coordinates and the coordinates describing the dynamics might be different and the transformation between them might be necessary in both directions. The back-and-forth transformations are related to the inverse function theorem, which is well understood for single and multivariable continuous functions: the conditions are described under which the inverse function exist, furthermore the method is provided to calculate the Jacobian of the inverse function. A generalization of the theorem is necessary, when there are fewer dependent variables than independent ones, and furthermore there are constraint equations for the independent variables. It is exactly the case for model-based inverse dynamics control of multibody systems, when the dynamic model is given in terms of a redundant coordinate set, but the controller is formulated for minimum set coordinates. The widely used so-called natural coordinates are a typical redundant set. Minimum-coordinates come in the picture when the control is formulated for the joint coordinates. Clearly, when the natural coordinates are transformed to joint coordinates, there is information loss. The inverse transformation is however still possible, since there are constraint equations for the redundant set. This paper demonstrates a method for the transformation from minimum to redundant coordinates and vice versa with the help of the generalized inverse of the non-square constraint Jacobian and the projection matrices related to the constrained and admissible subspace of the redundant set. An illustrative numerical example and a robotic application demonstrate the theory. The results are relevant in the model-based control of complex-structure parallel kinematic chain robots.
Assessing the Performance of Machine Learning Algorithms in Predicting Buckling Moments of Corrugated Web Beams
Authors: Hajdú Gábor , Bektas Nurullah , Müller Andreas
Published: October 2024

I-beams with corrugated webs have higher torsional stiffness than that of flat web beams. Furthermore, the geometrical dimensions of the beam and the web corrugation heavily influence the precision of the currently used traditional pen-and-paper methods for determining the elastic lateral-torsional buckling moment. This study aims to suggest several machine learning models with the intention of predicting the elastic lateral-torsional buckling moment of corrugated web beams. Multiple machine learning models, including Random Forests, Gradient Boosting, Categorical Boosting, and Deep Neural Networks, were deployed to develop and train models to predict the elastic critical lateral-torsional buckling moments of I-beams with corrugated web. The database used for training the different models was compiled through linear bifurcation analyses conducted on shell finite element models. The study evaluates the precision of the various machine learning models by examining their performance against statistical parameters derived from both predicted and test data. The findings from the parametric evaluation highlight the surprisingly high performance and accuracy of the machine learning models.