bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Essential terms of contracts in the field of road construction
Authors: Makovii V. P.
Published: September 2024

The article is devoted to the study of essential terms in the content of contracts in the field of road construction with due regard to the existing scientific approaches, provisions of current legislation and case law.
The author analyzes the essence of the essential terms of contracts of this type and provides a list of such terms. The author establishes that the list of essential terms of road construction contracts is exhaustive and may be supplemented by legislation, parties and courts. In addition, the author recognizes the possibility of listing the list of essential terms and conditions within the relevant offer by a party to the contract as a priority.
The study of the subject matter of a contract in the field of road construction in terms of the dichotomous “subject matter-contract” pair has created the prerequisites for supporting the position that the subject matter of a contract is understood as the result of construction works (engineering, geological, topographic, geodetic, hydrological, research and development, construction and installation works), i.e., a road as a complex object.
It is indicated that the price of contracts of this type is reflected in the design and estimate documentation and should be classified by the method of determination and peculiarities of adjustment. The term of construction works may be differentiated depending on the components of the work according to the design and estimate documentation. It is noted that if the term is included in the list of essential conditions, the provision on reasonable terms cannot be applied. The author classifies terms and makes proposals for bringing the provisions of legal acts in this part into line with the terminology and requirements of the Civil Code of Ukraine.
The author supports the idea of including provisions on the parties’ liability for improper performance or non-performance of obligations among the essential terms of a contract in the field of road construction. Attention is drawn to the specifics of essential terms in the content of contractor agreements and related investment agreements in the field of road construction.
Given the importance and specifics of implementation of this type of contracts, the author suggests that it is possible to determine the list of essential terms in a standard contract with due regard for the nature of special contractual structures in this area.
The concept and features of a preliminary contract in civil law
Authors: Pasternak P. I.
Published: September 2024

The current civil legislation of Ukraine stipulates the division of civil law contracts into preliminary and main ones. Contracts that are directly aimed at the emergence of rights and obligations between the participants of a specific contract are considered basic. Instead, contracts should be considered preliminary, the parties to which undertake to enter into a contract in the future (main contract) on the terms established by the previous contract (part 1 of Article 635 of the Civil Code of Ukraine) within a certain period of time (at a certain time). Preliminary contracts should be distinguished from contracts of intent, since in the latter only the intention of the parties to enter into contractual relations in the future is established, without the obligation to conclude a contract in the future. However, the practice of applying previous contracts indicates insufficient regulation of the scope of conclusion and application of the previous contract in practice. At the same time, the conclusion of a preliminary agreement is common in the field of real estate acquisition, in particular, the certification of a preliminary agreement with the participation of a notary. The possibility and procedure of concluding preliminary contracts are regulated by the Civil Code of Ukraine. The contract is the main basis for the emergence of civil legal obligations. It should be noted that a civil law contract is the main basis for the emergence of bindinglegal relations (obligations), which establishes certain subjective rights and subjective duties for the parties who concluded it. A contract can be defined as an agreement between two or more persons aimed at establishing, changing or terminating civil legal relations. The subject of the contract is always a certain action, but this action can only be lawful. If the subject of the contract is an unlawful act, i.e. illegal, then such a contract is recognized as invalid. The contract is considered valid if the following conditions are met: legality of the action; manifestation of will of the parties; compliance with the form of the contract established by law; legal capacity and legal capacity of the parties. The main element of every contract is the will of the parties, aimed at achieving a certain goal that does not contradict the law.
Suspension of execution (action) of a court decision at the stage of cassation review: separate issues of law enforcement
Authors: Popov O. I.
Published: September 2024

The presented article is devoted to the discussion of problematic issues of the application of the procedure of suspension the execution of the decision or suspension its effect at the stage of cassation review.
It is claimed that the outlined procedure serves as an important guarantee of the protection of the rights, freedoms and interests of the participants in the process in case of an illegal court decision, and its basic purpose is to prevent the violation of the rights, freedoms and legally protected interests of the person who filed a cassation complaint and other persons participating in the case, if such consequences may occur in connection with the implementation (action) of the contested court decision.
Based on the analysis of the practice of the application of certain norms of the procedural law by the Supreme Court when considering requests to suspend the execution (action) of a court decision, it was concluded that the specified procedure has signs of exclusivity and requires the applicant to pay due attention to justifying the existence of grounds for the court to take appropriate measures. The latter is a meaningful aspect of this procedure and involves not only the requirement of qualitative argumentation by the applicant for his petition, but also the submission by him of a sufficient amount of proper and admissible evidence, which testifies to the appeal of the contested decision to enforcement (for example, resolutions on the opening of executive proceedings, resolutions on the commission of certain executive actions, etc.), as well as other circumstances, the establishment of which will allow the court of cassation to be convinced of the existence of objective risks to assume that failure to take measures to suspend the execution (action) of the court decision will affect the impossibility or make it difficult to restore the violated right of the applicant, in the event of cancellation in subsequent Supreme Court of such a decision.
Along with this, within the scope of the study, a some of inconsistencies between individual provisions of Articles 394 and 436 of the Civil Procedure Code of Ukraine were identified, and proposals were made to eliminate them.
Peculiarities of conducting civil proceedings in cases of establishing the fact of a man and a woman living in the same family without registering a marriage and determining an additional term for accepting inheritance during martial law
Authors: Kononets O. , Ryzhenko N.
Published: September 2024

Living in the same family of a woman and a man without marriage is not the basis for their rights and obligations as spouses. Over time, couples living in a de facto marriage relationship have various issues and problems that need to be solved, in particular, the succession of a man and a woman who lived in a civil marriage. In order to exercise his right to inheritance, the spouse who survived the other in a civil marriage must apply to the court to establish the fact that a man and a woman live in the same family without registering the marriage. These applications are considered in the order of separate or lawsuit proceedings, depending on the presence or absence of a legal dispute. Thus, in the case of an appeal to the court with a statement in the order of a separate proceeding, the judge refuses to open a separate proceeding in the case, if a dispute on the right can be seen from the statement to establish the above-mentioned fact, and if a dispute on the right is revealed during the consideration of the case, – leaves application without consideration. The CPC of Ukraine establishes requirements for the form and content of the above-mentioned application in the order of a separate proceeding, namely in Art. 318 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine and in the procedure of legal proceedings – Art. 175, 177 of the Civil Code of Ukraine. Judicial practice has determined which evidence is appropriate and admissible for establishing such a fact. For the most part, such evidence is evidence of joint residence, running a joint household, the parties having a joint budget, spending jointly, purchasing property in the interests of the family, the existence of mutual marital rights and obligations between the parties, and other evidence. After receiving a court decision establishing the fact that a man and a woman live in the same family without registering a marriage, the heir applies to the notary with an application for acceptance of inheritance, however, in case of missing the deadline for submitting such an application, he has the right to renew the deadline for acceptance of inheritance in court. The specified issue is considered in the procedure of legal proceedings with mandatory clarification of the validity of the reasons for missing the deadline for accepting the inheritance and the presence or absence of other heirs. The legal regime of martial law does not stop the deadlines for submitting an application for acceptance of inheritance. The heir must apply to the Central Committee of Ukraine within a period of six months from the day of the opening of the inheritance with an application for acceptance of the inheritance, and in case of missing such a period, renew it in court.
Modification and termination of legal services supply agreement
Authors: Chumak R. V.
Published: September 2024

The article is focused on studying the possibility to modify and terminate legal services supply agreement. The author has noted that the volume of foreign investments is a significant stimulus for the recovery of the domestic economy, and this should be facilitated by proper protection of the rights of investors as less protected participants of investment relationships. All this will contribute to the need to streamline legislative mechanisms for regulating relations in the sphere of services provision.
In particular, civil regulation of legal services, despite the extraordinary social importance played by relations on providing legal services in society, has not been sufficiently developed yet, in order to affirm that a fairly well-balanced regime for regulating these relations functions in Ukraine.
The author of the article has indicated that the right to apply measures of operational influence by legal services’ customers requires a clear description in the legislation, but not to be established through a multi-stage interpretation of the relevant norms. The exercise of such a right should not depend on its enshrining in the terms of legal services supply agreements, i.e. its normative basis should be the relevant legal norms, which should increase the guarantee of protection of the rights and interests of the customers of such services as less protected participants of contractual relations.
The author has proved that the application of legal services on protection by the customers in the form of terminating the agreement, first of all by filing the corresponding claim to the court, has no particular specificity, compared to similar protection within other contractual obligations. The analysis of court practice indicates the lack of acute problems requiring scientific description and resolution in this regard. There is a stable court practice in Ukraine regarding the protection of legal services’ customers through the termination of relevant agreements. Termination of the contract, as a terminating legal fact, protects rather the customer’s interests, but not the rights (for safeguard of assets; for concluding the same meritous contracts with other entities, etc.).
The author of the work has specified that modification and termination of legal services supply agreements, which are carried out based on the understandings between the parties, as a general rule, are not applied in the context of the parties’ reaction to the offense committed by the counterparty, but due to other motives. In particular, a significant modification of circumstances can be mentioned among such motives.
Digital sovereignty: conceptual challenges and constitutional implications
Authors: Novikov Yevhen
Published: September 2024

This article examines how national states and integrative unions such as the European Union employ the concept of digital sovereignty in their policy discourse. It begins with the premise that contemporary digital policy of these entities is intricately linked to the idea of digital sovereignty.
The study analyzes the factors that have led national states and the European Union to enter a new phase of modern constitutionalism - digital constitutionalism. Modern European constitutionalism has accumulated experience in various social spheres, as evidenced by developments such as economic constitutionalism. In the digital era, it raises and attempts to answer questions about how digital constitutionalism can overcome the limitations of traditional constitutional thinking, particularly its focus on state-legal and political phenomena. The article explores the extent to which the generalization of purely state constitutional principles can advance in the digital age.
The paper emphasizes that digital constitutionalism is a convenient concept for explaining the phenomenon of constitutional resistance to challenges created by digital technologies. It notes that existing foreign, and especially Ukrainian, legal scholarship has not yet formed a clear and unified vision of this concept.
This article provides a literature review on digital constitutionalism and offers an analysis of the theoretical frameworks surrounding the concept. It posits that digital constitutionalism is an ideology that adapts the values of modern constitutionalism to the demands of the digital age. Currently, digital constitutionalism does not provide normative answers to the challenges of digital technologies, but rather presents a set of principles and values that inform and guide them.
The article argues that Internet governance is evolving towards fragmentation, polarization, and hybridization, which contribute to the development of an architecture of freedom and power in the digital environment. The study aims to identify constitutionally significant threats associated with digitalization and allows for the development of constitutional counterstrategies.
Está entre nosotros. De dónde sale y hasta dónde puede llegar la extrema derecha que no vimos venir.
Authors: Mora Salas Minor
Published: September 2024

Este libro, coordinado por Pablo Semán, examina un tema de gran relevancia en el debate político contemporáneo en Argentina: el surgimiento y la consolidación de las derechas radicalizadas como actores centrales en la esfera pública. En un contexto marcado por la polarización, la crisis de representatividad política y el malestar social generalizado, este fenómeno plantea desafíos cruciales para la convivencia democrática, la calidad institucional y la construcción de consensos. La irrupción de discursos y prácticas que tensan los límites del pluralismo, que fomentan la desconfianza y el resentimiento, y que movilizan pulsiones autoritarias, obliga a reconsiderar los supuestos y estrategias de las fuerzas progresistas y republicanas. En este sentido, el volumen proporciona claves analíticas y evidencias empíricas fundamentales para comprender las raíces, dinámicas y alcances de este proceso.
Internalization of Universal Religious Values in Developing Religious Moderation in Parigi Moutong State Senior High Schools
Authors: Muhammadismail  , Sagaf S. Pettalongi  , Mashuri Saepudin
Published: September 2024

This research discusses the Internalization of Universal Religious Values ​​in developing Religious Moderation in Torue State Senior High Schools. This research examines the process of internalizing universal religious values ​​in developing religious moderation and the impact of the results of internalizing universal religious values ​​in developing religious moderation at State Senior High School Torue. This research uses a qualitative approach, and data is collected through observation techniques, in-depth interviews, and written document analysis. The results of this research show that four values are internalized in State Senior High School 1 Torue, namely, the value of justice, the value of tolerance, the value of humanity, and the value of peace. The process of internalizing universal religious values ​​is carried out through several stages. The first stage is value transformation through awareness by understanding religious values. Next, the value transaction process involves direction, guidance, and examples for students to adhere to religious values. From the results of the transinternalization carried out, students have been able to apply the universal religious values ​​that are instilled, including in the implementation of policies or regulations made by the school, providing encouragement to students to practice good values ​​in their actions, following the good examples of the students and educators, as well as creating a harmonious environment in schools. The impact of internalizing religious values ​​plays an essential role in forming the character of moderate, tolerant students who respect religious diversity, respect their elders, are disciplined, are used to differences, are used to practicing worship, are close to friends, and are socially concerned.
The aid-corruption paradox in development: An examination of provinces in Indonesia
Authors: Kadewandana Donie , Paranata Ade , Endrődi-Kovács Viktória
Published: September 2024

The relationship between aid and corruption remains ambiguous. On the one hand, aid may benefit a country if the aid management system runs efficiently and transparently. On the other hand, aid tends to create new problems, namely corruption, especially in developing countries. This research examines the aid-corruption paradox in Indonesian provinces from a spatial perspective. The data was obtained from the Indonesian Ministry of Finance, the National Development Planning Agency of Indonesia, the Corruption Eradication Commission of Indonesia, and the Electronic Procurement Service, referring to 34 Indonesian provinces between 2011 and 2019. The research applies the spatial panel method and uses Haversine distance to construct the weighted matrix. The spatial error model (SEM) is the best for Model 1 (Grants) and Model 2 (Loans) and the best corruption model in Model 3 (Gratification). The spatial autoregressive model (SAR) is the best approach for Model 4 (Public Complaints) and Model 5 (Corruption). The findings show that there is no spatial dependence between provinces in Indonesia in terms of grants or loans. However, corruption in Indonesia is widespread.
Hybrid organization: How it works?
Authors: Mursalim Siti Widharetno , Karlina Nina , Muhtar Entang Adhy , Utami Sawitri Budi
Published: September 2024

This research was conducted to find out how a hybrid organization concept can be applied to various types and scopes of organizations. There are several things becoming the main focus in this hybrid organization research, namely to find out the extent to which the development of hybrid organizations in its practice when implemented and to find out what types of logic are used by various organizations in implementing hybrid organizations. The findings of the study showed that the concept of hybrid organizations has developed widely in the theory and practice of managing an organization. The concept of hybrid organizations has even been used by several sectors/fields of organizations, including small business organizations, construction projects, social enterprises, government companies, and even universities. This research concludes that the concept of a hybrid organization can be applied to various types & lines of organization because it is generally translated into the same concept in its application. However, some differences are characterized by the use of logic that each organization has that underlies the application of the hybrid organizational concept.
The missions of companies in the Henokiens Association: Content analyses of their configuration with linkages to business longevity
Authors: Kim Jaewook , Seo Eunji , Seo Gang-Hoon
Published: September 2024

Rapidly changing business environments and fierce competition are making it increasingly difficult for modern companies to maintain competitive advantage and accomplish business longevity. This study can fill the research gap in mission research and longevity research, and provides implications on what form and content of mission should be selected when determining the direction of a company’s corporate strategy. Although a company’s mission is a communication tool that represents the company’s strategic priorities and unique values, it has rarely been considered an important factor in business longevity. This study conducts a content analysis of the mission statements of 43 companies in the Henokiens Association to clarify the linkage between a company’s mission and business longevity and the configurations of long-lived firms’ missions. Our results show most long-lived firms have clear missions and perceptions of familism expansion. The firms’ past, present, and future additions to their concern for products, business growth, unique philosophy, and stakeholders are highlighted in their mission statements. Therefore, the main theoretical contribution of focusing on the corporate mission as a factor of business longevity in this study is not only a new approach to the longevity factor, but also the discovery of new values of the mission in strategic management research. The practical contribution of this study is that it reveals that companies seeking long-term competitive advantage in the market need to design, possess, and share a high-quality mission from a long-term perspective and instill the ideology of extended familyism. It can also provide hints about strategic priorities for small, family-run businesses facing threats to their survival.
Evaluating the impact of U.S. protectionist trade policies
Authors: Duche-Pérez Aleixandre Brian , Plata Anthony Rolando Medina Rivas , Gutiérrez-Aguilar Olger Albino , Vera-Revilla Cintya Yadira
Published: September 2024

The electoral campaign that led Trump to win the presidential election focused on attacking the elites and using nationalist rhetoric, highlighting issues such as illegal immigration and economic globalization. Once in power, his trade policies, based on perceptions of unfair competition with countries like China, resulted in the imposition of high tariffs on key products. These measures were justified as necessary to protect domestic industries and jobs, although they triggered trade wars at the international level. This article examines the economic consequences of the protectionist policies implemented by the United States under the Trump administration. The protection of less competitive sectors aims to reduce imports, negatively affecting production and income in exporting countries, and limiting U.S. exports to these markets. Although some countries have experienced an increase in real income due to trade diversion, overall, income fluctuations have been negative.
Weather conditions and tourism demand: A tested by threshold regression in 5 major tourism destinations in Thailand
Authors: Harnphattananusorn Supanee , Sanguanwongse Vijitsri , Chaivichayachat Bundit
Published: September 2024

The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between changing weather conditions and tourism demand in Thailand across five selected provinces: Chonburi (Pattaya), Surat Thani, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok. The annual data used in this study from 2012 to 2022. The estimation method is threshold regression (TR). The results indicate that weather conditions proxied by the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) significantly affect tourism demand in these five provinces. Specifically, changes in weather conditions, such as an increase in temperature, generally result in a decrease in tourism demand. However, the impact of weather conditions varies according to each province’s unique characteristics or highlights. For example, tourism demand in Bangkok is not significantly affected by weather conditions. In contrast, provinces that rely heavily on maritime tourism, such as Chonburi (Pattaya), Phuket, and Surat Thani, are notably affected by weather conditions. When the THI in each province rises beyond a certain threshold, the demand for tourism in these provinces by foreign tourists decreases significantly. Furthermore, economic factors, particularly tourists’ income, significantly impact tourism demand. An increase in the income of foreign tourists is associated with a decrease in tourism in Pattaya. This trend possibly occurs because higher-income tourists tend to upgrade their travel destinations from Pattaya to more upscale locations such as Phuket or Surat Thani. For Thai tourists, an increase in income leads to a decrease in domestic tourism, as higher incomes enable more frequent international travel, thereby reducing tourism in the five provinces. Additionally, the study found that the availability and convenience of accommodation and food services are critical factors influencing tourism demand in all the provinces studied.
Performance of ChatGPT and GPT-4 on Polish National Specialty Exam (NSE) in Ophthalmology
Authors: Ciekalski Marcin , Laskowski Maciej , Koperczak Agnieszka , Śmierciak Maria , Sirek Sebastian
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved significantly, driven by advancements in computing power and big data. Technologies like machine learning and deep learning have led to sophisticated models such as GPT-3.5 and GPT-4. This study assesses the performance of these AI models on the Polish National Specialty Exam in ophthalmology, exploring their potential to support research, education, and clinical decision-making in healthcare.

Materials and Methods

The study analyzed 98 questions from the Spring 2023 Polish NSE in Ophthalmology. Questions were categorized into five groups: Physiology & Diagnostics, Clinical & Case Questions, Treatment & Pharmacology, Surgery, and Pediatrics. GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 were tested for their accuracy in answering these questions, with a confidence rating from 1 to 5 assigned to each response. Statistical analyses, including the Chi-squared test and Mann-Whitney U test, were employed to compare the models’ performance.

Results

GPT-4 demonstrated a significant improvement over GPT-3.5, correctly answering 63.3% of questions compared to GPT-3.5’s 37.8%. GPT-4’s performance met the passing criteria for the NSE. The models showed varying degrees of accuracy across different categories, with a notable gap in fields like surgery and pediatrics.

Conclusions

The study highlights the potential of GPT models in aiding clinical decisions and educational purposes in ophthalmology. However, it also underscores the models’ limitations, particularly in specialized fields like surgery and pediatrics. The findings suggest that while AI models like GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 can significantly assist in the medical field, they require further development and fine-tuning to address specific challenges in various medical domains.
Effect of the addition of different forms of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) on the quality of vacuum-packed minced pork
Authors: Śmiecińska Katarzyna , Daszkiewicz Tomasz , Krajewska Agnieszka , Kubiak Dorota
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Apart from their antioxidant activity, plant-derived bioactive compounds can also positively affect the quality of meat and meat products by improving their sensory and microbiological properties and preventing discolouration. The aim of this study was to determine how the addition of different forms of rosemary improved the quality of pork.

Material and Methods

Minced pork samples were divided into a control sample without additives (C) and three experimental samples with certified additives (15 mg/kg of meat each), i.e. rosemary oleoresin (ROL), extract (REX) and essential oil (REO). Each was further divided into three subsamples; the first was evaluated before storage, and the second and third were evaluated after respective 7- and 14-day vacuum-packed storage at 2°C. The TBARS value was expressed as mg of malondialdehyde (MDA) per kg of meat. Colour was determined based on the values of the standard colour space values of L* (lightness), a* (redness) and b* (yellowness) as well as C* (chroma) and h° (hue angle). Sensory attributes of the samples were evaluated on a nine-point scale. The pour-plating procedure was used for the enumeration of Pseudomonas, mesophilic lactic acid bacteria, psychrotrophic bacteria and rods of the Enterobacteriaceae family. Within each bacterial group, the most common colonies were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI).

Results

Lipid oxidation was most effectively inhibited by REO. The addition of ROL and REO to pork lightened its colour. Meat with REO had stronger redness, whereas meat with ROL had stronger yellowness. The addition of REX affected the sensory properties of pork most beneficially. Neither Enterobacteriaceae nor Pseudomonas spp. were detected in REO pork, which also contained lower counts of lactic acid bacteria than group C pork.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that rosemary has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and may improve the colour and sensory attributes of pork. The effect exerted by rosemary on meat quality may vary depending on the physical form of the additive.
Biomarkers of oxidative stress, biochemical changes, and the activity of lysosomal enzymes in the livers of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) vaccinated against yersiniosis before a Yersinia ruckeri challenge
Authors: Kurhaluk Natalia , Grudniewska Joanna , Pękala-Safińska Agnieszka , Pajdak-Czaus Joanna , Terech-Majewska Elżbieta , Platt-Samoraj Aleksandra , Tkaczenko Halina
Published: September 2024

Introduction

This study aimed to evaluate biomarkers of oxidative stress (2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, aldehyde and ketone derivatives of oxidatively modified proteins and total antioxidant capacity), the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase), that of lysosomal enzymes (alanyl aminopeptidase, leucyl aminopeptidase, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase and acid phosphatase) and changes in biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, de Ritis ratio, lactate dehydrogenase activity, lactate and pyruvate levels and their ratio) in the liver tissue of fish that were vaccinated against enteric redmouth disease and challenged with its causative agent, the bacterium Yersinia ruckeri.

Material and Methods

The vaccine was administered orally to trout, some of which were challenged with Y. ruckeri 61 days later. For comparison, unvaccinated and unchallenged trout and unvaccinated and challenged trout were also evaluated.

Results

In the unvaccinated fish, infection with Y. ruckeri disrupted the pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance, led to a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and oxidative modification of proteins, decreased total antioxidant capacity and significantly increased the activity of lysosomal enzymes. In vaccinated fish, the Y. ruckeri challenge increased the activity of glutathione-related enzymes and decreased lipid peroxidation, anaerobic metabolism and the activity of lysosomal enzymes in fish livers relative to the unvaccinated and challenged group. In contrast, these parameters increased after the Y. ruckeri challenge in unvaccinated trout relative to those in the untreated group.

Conclusion

Vaccination exerted a protective effect during the Y. ruckeri challenge and had no adverse effect on fish livers.
The effect of coffee husks used as pellet bedding material on the intestinal barrier, immune-related gene expression and microbiota composition in the broiler chicken caecum
Authors: Biesek Jakub , Dunisławska Aleksandra , Kozdruń Wojciech
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Using coffee husks as waste material for bedding contributes to sustainable development. A sustainable choice of bedding has also, however, to be a safe choice for poultry. The study analysed immune-related gene expression in the intestinal mucosa and indicator bacteria in caecal content collected from broiler chickens bedded on material with coffee husk addition.

Material and Methods

One-day-old Ross 308 chickens were divided into four groups of 10 birds each in five replicates: C, the control group kept on wheat straw bedding; CH10, a group kept on bedding of 10% coffee husks and 90% wheat straw; CH25, a group kept on bedding of 25% husks and 75% straw; and CH50, a group kept on bedding of 50% husks and 50% straw. After 42 days, the birds were slaughtered, the caecal mucosae were removed for RNA isolation and the caecal content was collected for bacterial DNA isolation. The expression of genes involved in intestinal immune response and host organism defence and the relative abundance of indicator bacteria were analysed.

Results

Upregulation of the expression of genes related to the immune response and intestinal tightness was correlated with an increase in the percentage of coffee husks in the pellet. Coffee husk pellets at 50% bedding content caused a significant numerical increase in Bifidobacterium and a statistically significant increase in Lactobacillus. A significant reduction in E. coli bacteria was also demonstrated in this group. Coffee husk pellets at all content percentages resulted in a statistically significant diminution of the level of Streptococcus bacteria.

Conclusion

The addition of coffee husks to poultry litter effects beneficial changes in the expression of genes related to intestinal health and the caecal bacterial profile.
The prevalence of Mycoplasma canis in the vaginas of breeding bitches
Authors: Jagódka Dariusz , Kaczorek-Łukowska Edyta , Socha Piotr Andrzej
Published: September 2024

Introduction

How bacterial infections of the reproductive tract cause infertility and the correlation between the health status of female dogs and the presence of Mycoplasma canis (M. canis) in the vagina are still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the M. canis population in the vagina of breeding bitches and to correlate this microbial population with some fertility outcomes.

Material and Methods

A total of 275 breeding bitches were included in the study. Vaginal samples were collected for microbiological and PCR testing.

Results

Mycoplasma canis was identified in 34.91% of the samples. One-third of bitches from the problem-free group and 41.18% from the group with problems were positive. In general, there were no significant differences in the prevalence of M. canis between the groups (P-value > 0.05). Mycoplasma canis occurs in both mated and unmated bitches and was found in a large number of kennels (67%). There was a correlation between M. canis in the kennel and the incidence of single puppy deaths and low litter sizes. There was also some correlation between the presence of M. canis in the vagina with at least two other bacterial strains and reproductive disorders.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that M. canis is part of the normal vaginal flora of breeding bitches, although a role for this bacterium in causing some reproductive disorders remains to be disproved.
Fault Diagnosis of Marine Diesel Engine Based on Multi-scale Time Domain Decomposition and Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Li Congyue , Cui Dexin
Published: September 2024

Marine diesel engines work in an environment with multiple excitation sources. Effective feature extraction and fault diagnosis of diesel engine vibration signals have become a hot research topic. Time-domain synchronous averaging (TSA) can effectively handle vibration signals. However, the key phase signal required for TSA is difficult to obtain. During signal processing, it can result in the loss of information on fault features. In addition, frequency multiplication signal waveforms are mixed. To address this problem, a multi-scale time-domain averaging decomposition (MTAD) method is proposed and combined with signal-to-image conversion and a convolutional neural network (CNN), to perform fault diagnosis on a marine diesel engine. Firstly, the vibration signals are decomposed by MTAD. The MTAD method does not require the acquisition of the key phase signal and can effectively overcome signal aliasing. Secondly, the decomposed signal components are converted into 2-D images by signal-to-image conversion. Finally, the 2-D images are input into the CNN for adaptive feature extraction and fault diagnosis. Through experiments, it is verified that the proposed method has certain noise immunity and superiority in marine diesel engine fault diagnosis.
The Evolution and Challenges of Academic Family Medicine: Insights from the Banja Luka Declaration
Authors: Stepanović Aleksander , Švab Igor , Đukić Biljana , Škrbić Ranko
Published: September 2024

Academic medicine encompasses education, research and clinical practice, and plays a crucial role in advancing medical science and training physicians. However, the field faces a crisis, with fewer graduates pursuing academic careers.

Family medicine emerged as an academic discipline in the second half of the 20th century, contributing significantly to science and primary healthcare. Despite its recognised status, the World Health Organization has yet to formally define it as an academic discipline. Nevertheless, the discipline must continually update its academic dimension in order to address future challenges.

The international conference in Banja Luka, attended by deans or representatives of Medical Faculties in Southeast Europe, emphasized family medicine's role in primary healthcare and academic medicine, adopting the Banja Luka Declaration to promote family medicine as an independent academic discipline. The conference aims to inspire global support for family medicine as an academic discipline.
How High School Students Solve Proportional Reasoning Problem?
Authors: Khotimi Ahmad Zulfa , Prabawanto Sufyani , Jupri Al
Published: September 2024

This research is motivated by the phenomenon of students' difficulties in solving proportional reasoning problems and the lack of proportional reasoning research at the high school level. This research aims to describe in depth the ability of high school students to solve proportional reasoning problems and learning obstacles that may occur. The method used is qualitative with a case study approach. The research subjects involved were 5 students from grades 10 to 12. The instruments used were tests and interview guides. The research results showed that there were 4 mistakes made by students in solving proportional reasoning problems, namely (1) Using the additional strategy in solving proportional reasoning problems; (2) Not being able to solve problems of indirect proportion; (3) Using multiplication strategies in solving non-proportional problems; and (4) Not being able to compare ratios. Concerning learning obstacles, there are 2 types of learning obstacles that are indicated to be experienced by students, namely epistemological obstacles and ontogenic obstacles. The results of this research can be used as a basis for carrying out further research in the form of research that designs learning flows and/or learning designs that can develop students' proportional reasoning abilities.
Enhancing Students’ Numeracy Skills in Solving Probability Problems through Realistic Mathematics Education
Authors: Susanto Edi , Mahmudi Ali , Sereyvuth Chhorn
Published: September 2024

Numeracy skills can help students to solve everyday problems. The low numeracy skills of students are caused by not understanding the problem, lack of strategy, and obstacles to evaluating and interpreting the solution to the context. The teacher needs to implement the learning process by using the RME approach, which uses local context and facilitates activity to think mathematically. This study aims to investigate the RME approach in enhancing numeracy skills and to describe the numeracy skills of students in solving problems according to numeracy indicators. The explanatory sequential mixed methods were used to analyze data from tests and interviews. The research subjects were 32 Grade 8 students, and four selected students chose to do the interviews based on each numeracy skills category. The results show a significant difference between the average numeracy skills of students before and after learning with the RME approach. Students with proficient, competent, and basic competencies fulfill the numeracy indicators. Meanwhile, students who need special intervention still have difficulty modeling problems into mathematical representations, incorrectly use the concept of probability, have inappropriate problem-solving strategies, and cannot interpret mathematical solutions in the form of arguments.
Student’s Collaboration and Creative Mathematical Thinking Skills in Problem-Based Learning Using Numeracy Problems
Authors: Nurhalita Nora , Meryansumayeka Meryansumayeka , Scristia Scristia , Yusup Muhammad
Published: September 2024

Collaboration and creative mathematical thinking are important for students. However, students' collaboration and creative mathematical thinking skills are still low because students are not used to collaborating or investigating the problem-solving process. This research aims to determine students' collaboration and creative mathematical thinking skills in the 10th grade in Problem-Based Learning using numeracy problems. This research was carried out on 25 vocational school students majoring in accounting in Palembang, Indonesia. The research method used was a mixed method. The results of research on students' collaboration skills show that most of the students are in the excellent category. Students can fulfill respect for others and commitment indicators, but the indicators of deliberation and participation are rarely fulfilled. The research results on students' creative mathematical thinking skills show that 80% are in the very good category, 16% are in the good category, and others are in the pretty good category. Students can fulfill three indicators, fluency, originality, and elaboration, but flexibility is rarely fulfilled. Creative thinking skills of students need to improve.
Relationship between Self-efficacy and Learning Motivation with Student Learning Outcomes on Endocrine System Material at La Tansa High School
Authors: Miharja Jajang , Fadila Naritsa , Survani Rifki
Published: September 2024

This research aims to determine the relationship between self-efficacy, learning motivation, and student learning outcomes in the endocrine system material at La Tansa High School. This study uses a quantitative approach. The instruments used in data collection were questionnaires and test questions. This research was conducted from 17 to 25 June 2023 using random sampling techniques. The number of samples in this research was 34 students. The self-efficacy and learning motivation questionnaire consisted of 28 questions, and the student learning outcomes test questions consisted of 25 questions. The results of data analysis of the variable analysis of self-efficacy, learning motivation, and student learning outcomes with a correlation coefficient value of R_hit 0.585 t_table 0.3291 and a significant value of 0.002 with a significance level of 0.05 has a moderate correlation. This means that H_0 is rejected and H_a is accepted. The determination test results obtained were 34.2%. This research shows that "There is a positive relationship between Self-Efficacy and Learning Motivation with Student Learning Outcomes on Endocrine System Material at La Tansa High School."
The Influence of Gender Differences on Academic Abilities of Biology Education Students in the Animal Structure Practicum
Authors: Maspupah Meti , Hidayah Nurul , Ramdhan Rifki
Published: September 2024

Differences in the academic abilities of each student are one of the factors that influence the high and low test scores of each student, especially in animal structure practical courses. This research aims to determine the effect of gender differences on the academic abilities of biology education students based on the results of mid-semester exams. The population in this study was all students in the third semester of biology education with a sample of 20 male students and 20 female students. The data collection technique in this research uses a study of students' midterm exam documents which are analyzed using average calculations and followed by statistical analysis in the form of normality tests, homogeneity tests, and continued with hypothesis testing. The average score of male students is 46.5, lower than that of female students, which is 66.5 with the asmp normality test. Sig 0.000 0.05 where the data is not normally distributed. The homogeneity test results obtained asymp value. Sig 0.978 0.05 where the data is homogeneous, and the results of the asmp hypothesis test. Sig (2-tailed) 0.001 0.05 where the hypothesis is accepted. Thus, there is a difference in academic abilities between men and women in the animal structure practicum course, the concept of observing animal tissue.
The Role of Biology Education in Efforts to Revitalize Human Intelligence in the Era of Disruption: A Human Nature Perspective
Authors: Wulandari Susanti , Akmaliah Puput Hikmatul , Mariyam Ade Siti , Yanawati Riska
Published: September 2024

The impact of technological domination can threaten the balance of human natural intelligence. The aim of this research is to analyze how biology education can be a solution in overcoming these challenges. The research method used involved an in-depth literature review of the concepts of natural intelligence, human nature, and the impact of technology on both. In addition, field research was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of biology education strategies implemented in several educational institutions. The research results show that biology education, critical thinking skills, and connection with nature can make a significant contribution to revitalizing human intelligence. The integration of biological concepts allows individuals to stay connected and offset the negative effects of technology. Thus, biology education has a crucial role in maintaining human natural intelligence in an era of disruption.