bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel electronic biosensor for automated inoculum preparation to accelerate antimicrobial susceptibility testing
Authors: Putney Suzanne , Theiss Andrew H. , Rajan Nitin K. , Deak Eszter , Buie Creighton , Ngo Yvonne , Shah Hima , Yuan Victoria , Botbol-Ponte Elizabeth , Hoyos-Urias Adrian , Knopfmacher Oren , Hogan Catherine A. , Banaei Niaz , Herget Meike S.
Published: May 2021

A key predictor of morbidity and mortality for patients with a bloodstream infection is time to appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Accelerating antimicrobial susceptibility testing from positive blood cultures is therefore key to improving patient outcomes, yet traditional laboratory approaches can require 2–4 days for actionable results. The eQUANT—a novel instrument utilizing electrical biosensors—produces a standardized inoculum equivalent to a 0.5 McFarland directly from positive blood cultures. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that eQUANT inocula prepared from clinically significant species of Enterobacterales were comparable to 0.5 McF inocula generated from bacterial colonies in both CFU/ml concentration and performance in antimicrobial susceptibility testing, with ≥ 95% essential and categorical agreement for VITEK2 and disk diffusion. The eQUANT, combined with a rapid, direct from positive blood culture identification technique, can allow the clinical laboratory to begin antimicrobial susceptibility testing using a standardized inoculum approximately 2–3 h after a blood culture flags positive. This has the potential to improve clinical practice by accelerating conventional antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the resulting targeted antibiotic therapy.
Percolation networks inside 3D model of the mineralized collagen fibril
Authors: Bini Fabiano , Pica Andrada , Marinozzi Andrea , Marinozzi Franco
Published: May 2021

Bone is a hierarchical biological material, characterized at the nanoscale by a recurring structure mainly composed of apatite mineral and collagen, i.e. the mineralized collagen fibril (MCF). Although the architecture of the MCF was extensively investigated by experimental and computational studies, it still represents a topic of debate. In this work, we developed a 3D continuum model of the mineral phase in the framework of percolation theory, that describes the transition from isolated to spanning cluster of connected platelets. Using Monte Carlo technique, we computed overall 120 × 106 iterations and investigated the formation of spanning networks of apatite minerals. We computed the percolation probability for different mineral volume fractions characteristic of human bone tissue. The findings highlight that the percolation threshold occurs at lower volume fractions for spanning clusters in the width direction with respect to the critical mineral volume fractions that characterize the percolation transition in the thickness and length directions. The formation of spanning clusters of minerals represents a condition of instability for the MCF, as it could be the onset of a high susceptibility to fracture. The 3D computational model developed in this study provides new, complementary insights to the experimental investigations concerning human MCF.
Heparan sulfate proteoglycan glypican-1 and PECAM-1 cooperate in shear-induced endothelial nitric oxide production
Authors: Bartosch Anne Marie W. , Mathews Rick , Mahmoud Marwa M. , Cancel Limary M. , Haq Zahin S. , Tarbell John M.
Published: May 2021

This study aimed to clarify the role of glypican-1 and PECAM-1 in shear-induced nitric oxide production in endothelial cells. Atomic force microscopy pulling was used to apply force to glypican-1 and PECAM-1 on the surface of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and nitric oxide was measured using a fluorescent reporter dye. Glypican-1 pulling for 30 min stimulated nitric oxide production while PECAM-1 pulling did not. However, PECAM-1 downstream activation was necessary for the glypican-1 force-induced response. Glypican-1 knockout mice exhibited impaired flow-induced phosphorylation of eNOS without changes to PECAM-1 expression. A cooperation mechanism for the mechanotransduction of fluid shear stress to nitric oxide production was elucidated in which glypican-1 senses flow and phosphorylates PECAM-1 leading to endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation and nitric oxide production.
Novel regulation of renal gluconeogenesis by Atp6ap2 in response to high fat diet via PGC1-α/AKT-1 pathway
Authors: Akhtar Safia , Culver Silas A. , Siragy Helmy M.
Published: May 2021

Recent studies suggested that renal gluconeogenesis is substantially stimulated in the kidney in presence of obesity. However, the mechanisms responsible for such stimulation are not well understood. Recently, our laboratory demonstrated that mice fed high fat diet (HFD) exhibited increase in renal Atp6ap2 [also known as (Pro)renin receptor] expression. We hypothesized that HFD upregulates renal gluconeogenesis via Atp6ap2-PGC-1α and AKT pathway. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis and immunostaining, we evaluated renal expression of the Atp6ap2 and renal gluconeogenic enzymes, PEPCK and G6Pase, in wild type and inducible nephron specific Atp6ap2 knockout mice fed normal diet (ND, 12 kcal% fat) or a high-fat diet (HFD, 45 kcal% fat) for 8 weeks. Compared with ND, HFD mice had significantly higher body weight (23%) (P < 0.05), renal mRNA and protein expression of Atp6ap2 (39 and 35%), PEPCK (44 and 125%) and G6Pase (39 and 44%) respectively. In addition, compared to ND, HFD mice had increased renal protein expression of PGC-1α by 32% (P < 0.05) and downregulated AKT by 33% (P < 0.05) respectively in renal cortex. Atp6ap2-KO abrogated these changes in the mice fed HFD. In conclusion, we identified novel regulation of renal gluconeogenesis by Atp6ap2 in response to high fat diet via PGC1-α/AKT-1 pathway.
Changes in each retinal layer and ellipsoid zone recovery after full-thickness macular hole surgery
Authors: Lee Min-Woo , Kim Tae-Yeon , Song Yong-Yeon , Baek Seung-Kook , Lee Young-Hoon
Published: May 2021

To analyze the changes in each retinal layer and the recovery of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) after full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) surgery. Patients who underwent surgery for FTMH were included. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was performed preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. A total of 32 eyes were enrolled. Ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, and inner nuclear layer showed significant reductions over time after surgery (P = 0.020, P = 0.001, and P = 0.001, respectively), but were significantly thicker than those of fellow eyes at 12 months postoperatively. The average recovery duration of the external limiting membrane (ELM), outer nuclear layer (ONL), and EZ was 1.5, 2.1, and 6.1 months, respectively. Baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (P = 0.003), minimum linear diameter (MLD) (P = 0.025), recovery of EZ (P = 0.008), and IRL thickness (P < 0.001) were significant factors associated with changes in the BCVA. Additionally, axial length (P < 0.001), MLD (P = 0.020), and IRL thickness (P = 0.001) showed significant results associated with EZ recovery. The IRL gradually became thinner after FTMH surgery but was still thicker than that of the fellow eye at 12 months postoperatively. The recovery of ELM and ONL may be a prerequisite for the EZ recovery. The BCVA change was affected by baseline BCVA, MLD, recovery of EZ, and IRL thickness. Additionally, axial length, MLD, and IRL thickness were significantly associated with EZ recovery.
A nomogram based on clinicopathological features and serological indicators predicting breast pathologic complete response of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer
Authors: Li Yijun , Zhang Jian , Wang Bin , Zhang Huimin , He Jianjun , Wang Ke
Published: May 2021

A single tumor marker is not enough to predict the breast pathologic complete response (bpCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer patients. We aimed to establish a nomogram based on multiple clinicopathological features and routine serological indicators to predict bpCR after NAC in breast cancer patients. Data on clinical factors and laboratory indices of 130 breast cancer patients who underwent NAC and surgery in First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from July 2017 to July 2019 were collected. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified 11 independent indicators: body mass index, carbohydrate antigen 125, total protein, blood urea nitrogen, cystatin C, serum potassium, serum phosphorus, platelet distribution width, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and hepatitis B surface antibodies. The nomogram was established based on these indicators. The 1000 bootstrap resampling internal verification calibration curve and the GiViTI calibration belt showed that the model was well calibrated. The Brier score of 0.095 indicated that the nomogram had a high accuracy. The area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.941 (95% confidence interval: 0.900–0.982) showed good discrimination of the model. In conclusion, this nomogram showed high accuracy and specificity and did not increase the economic burden of patients, thereby having a high clinical application value.
The FlhA linker mediates flagellar protein export switching during flagellar assembly
Authors: Inoue Yumi , Kinoshita Miki , Kida Mamoru , Takekawa Norihiro , Namba Keiichi , Imada Katsumi , Minamino Tohru
Published: May 2021

The flagellar protein export apparatus switches substrate specificity from hook-type to filament-type upon hook assembly completion, thereby initiating filament assembly at the hook tip. The C-terminal cytoplasmic domain of FlhA (FlhAC) serves as a docking platform for flagellar chaperones in complex with their cognate filament-type substrates. Interactions of the flexible linker of FlhA (FlhAL) with its nearest FlhAC subunit in the FlhAC ring is required for the substrate specificity switching. To address how FlhAL brings the order to flagellar assembly, we analyzed the flhA(E351A/W354A/D356A) ΔflgM mutant and found that this triple mutation in FlhAL increased the secretion level of hook protein by 5-fold, thereby increasing hook length. The crystal structure of FlhAC(E351A/D356A) showed that FlhAL bound to the chaperone-binding site of its neighboring subunit. We propose that the interaction of FlhAL with the chaperon-binding site of FlhAC suppresses filament-type protein export and facilitates hook-type protein export during hook assembly.
Multi-species and multi-tissue methylation clocks for age estimation in toothed whales and dolphins
Authors: Robeck Todd R. , Fei Zhe , Lu Ake T. , Haghani Amin , Jourdain Eve , Zoller Joseph A. , Li Caesar Z. , Steinman Karen J. , DiRocco Stacy , Schmitt Todd , Osborn Steve , Van Bonn Bill , Katsumata Etsuko , Mergl June , Almunia Javier , Rodriguez Magdalena , Haulena Martin , Dold Christopher , Horvath Steve
Published: May 2021

The development of a precise blood or skin tissue DNA Epigenetic Aging Clock for Odontocete (OEAC) would solve current age estimation inaccuracies for wild odontocetes. Therefore, we determined genome-wide DNA methylation profiles using a custom array (HorvathMammalMethyl40) across skin and blood samples (n = 446) from known age animals representing nine odontocete species within 4 phylogenetic families to identify age associated CG dinucleotides (CpGs). The top CpGs were used to create a cross-validated OEAC clock which was highly correlated for individuals (r = 0.94) and for unique species (median r = 0.93). Finally, we applied the OEAC for estimating the age and sex of 22 wild Norwegian killer whales. DNA methylation patterns of age associated CpGs are highly conserved across odontocetes. These similarities allowed us to develop an odontocete epigenetic aging clock (OEAC) which can be used for species conservation efforts by provide a mechanism for estimating the age of free ranging odontocetes from either blood or skin samples.
Droplet-based microfluidic platform for high-throughput screening of Streptomyces
Authors: Tu Ran , Zhang Yue , Hua Erbing , Bai Likuan , Huang Huamei , Yun Kaiyue , Wang Meng
Published: May 2021

Streptomyces are one of the most important industrial microorganisms for the production of proteins and small-molecule drugs. Previously reported flow cytometry-based screening methods can only screen spores or protoplasts released from mycelium, which do not represent the filamentous stationary phase Streptomyces used in industrial cultivation. Here we show a droplet-based microfluidic platform to facilitate more relevant, reliable and rapid screening of Streptomyces mycelium, and achieved an enrichment ratio of up to 334.2. Using this platform, we rapidly characterized a series of native and heterologous constitutive promoters in Streptomyces lividans 66 in droplets, and efficiently screened out a set of engineered promoter variants with desired strengths from two synthetic promoter libraries. We also successfully screened out several hyperproducers of cellulases from a random S. lividans 66 mutant library, which had 69.2–111.4% greater cellulase production than the wild type. Our method provides a fast, simple, and powerful solution for the industrial engineering and screening of Streptomyces in more industry-relevant conditions.
Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) as a novel ADC target
Authors: Javaid Faiza , Pilotti Camilla , Camilli Carlotta , Kallenberg David , Bahou Calise , Blackburn Jack , R. Baker James , Greenwood John , Moss Stephen E. , Chudasama Vijay
Published: May 2021

LRG1 is present abundantly in the microenvironment of many tumours. LRG1 targeting through the reported non-internalising ADC presents a novel and effective proof-of-concept en route to improving the efficacy of cancer therapeutics.
A case study of SARS-CoV-2 transmission behavior in a severely air-polluted city (Delhi, India) and the potential usage of graphene based materials for filtering air-pollutants and controlling/monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Thakur Amrit Kumar , Sathyamurthy Ravishankar , Ramalingam Velraj , Lynch Iseult , Sharshir Swellam Wafa , Ma Zhenjun , Poongavanam Ganeshkumar , Lee Suyeong , Jeong Yeseul , Hwang Jang-Yeon
Published: May 2021

This review summarizes the role of graphene-based nanomaterials, which show antimicrobial behavior and have antiviral efficacy, in reducing the spread of COVID-19.
Comprehensive expression profiles of CircRNAs, LncRNAs, and mRNAs in PBMCs from patients with the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament
Authors: Jiang Ning , Zhang Kuibo , Shang Jie , Wang Bin , Zhong Junlong , Wu Biao , Li Huizi , Xu Xianghe , Lu Huading
Published: May 2021

Transcriptome expression profiles (circRNAs, lncRNAs, and mRNAs) were identified via high-throughput sequencing using PBMCs from OPLL and non-OPLL patients.
Silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) in sustainable agriculture: major emphasis on the practicality, efficacy and concerns
Authors: Bhat Javaid Akhter , Rajora Nitika , Raturi Gaurav , Sharma Shivani , Dhiman Pallavi , Sanand Sandhya , Shivaraj S. M. , Sonah Humira , Deshmukh Rupesh
Published: May 2021

Silicon (Si), a beneficial element for plants, is known for its prophylactic effect under stress conditions.
Photocleavable proteins that undergo fast and efficient dissociation
Authors: Lu Xiaocen , Wen Yurong , Zhang Shuce , Zhang Wei , Chen Yilun , Shen Yi , Lemieux M. Joanne , Campbell Robert E.
Published: May 2021

Photocleavable proteins can enable the light-dependent modulation of biomolecular activities with high spatiotemporal precision.
High-purity H2 production by sorption-enhanced water gas shift on a K2CO3-promoted Cu/MgO–Al2O3 difunctional material
Authors: Hu Yuanwu , Cheng Zhenmin , Zhou Zhiming
Published: May 2021

A sol–gel derived, K2CO3-promoted Cu/MgO–Al2O3 difunctional material that integrates catalytic and adsorptive sites can produce high-purity H2 (>99.9%) in consecutive sorption-enhanced water gas shift (SEWGS) cycles.
Optimizing two green-like biomass pretreatments for maximum bioethanol production using banana pseudostem by effectively enhancing cellulose depolymerization and accessibility
Authors: Liu Fei , Li Jingyang , Yu Hua , Li Yuqi , Wang Yanting , Gao Hairong , Peng Hao , Hu Zhen , Wang Hailang , Zhang Guifen , Tu Yuanyuan , Peng Liangcai
Published: May 2021

The banana is an important fruit crop that generates enormous quantities of lignocellulose-rich pseudostem residues that can be converted into biofuels and biochemicals.
Continuum-scale modelling of polymer blends using the Cahn–Hilliard equation: transport and thermodynamics
Authors: Inguva Pavan K. , Walker Pierre J. , Yew Hon Wa , Zhu Kezheng , Haslam Andrew J. , Matar Omar K.
Published: May 2021

This review explores the physical features of the Cahn–Hilliard equation and how various thermodynamic models can be incorporated to study mixtures such as polymer blends.
Self-assembly of shape-tunable oblate colloidal particles into orientationally ordered crystals, glassy crystals and plastic crystals
Authors: Lu Jiawei , Bu Xiangyu , Zhang Xinhua , Liu Bing
Published: May 2021

The particle shape between a disc and a sphere was found to significantly affect not only the formed superstructures but also their orientations, and a sequence from orientationally ordered crystals to glassy crystals to plastic crystals was found.
Modelling a socialised chatbot using trust development in children: lessons learnt from Tay
Authors: Bridge Oliver , Raper Rebecca , Strong Nicola , Nugent Selin E.
Published: May 2021

In 2016 Microsoft released Tay.ai to the Twittersphere, a conversational chatbot that was intended to act like a millennial girl. However, they ended up taking Tay's account down in less than 24 h because Tay had learnt to tweet racist and sexist statements from its online interactions. Taking inspiration from the theory of morality as cooperation, and the place of trust in the developmental psychology of socialisation, we offer a multidisciplinary and pragmatic approach to build on the lessons learnt from Tay's experiences, to create a chatbot that is more selective in its learning, and thus resistant to becoming immoral the way Tay did.
Focused energy delivery with low grating lobes for precision electronic warfare via BCD framework
Authors: Yang Zhong‐ping , Zhang Jian‐yun , Li Zhi‐hui , Zhou Qing‐song , Yang Shu‐ning
Published: May 2021

This letter presents a new method of focused energy delivery (FED) with low grating lobes for precision electronic warfare (PREW). The transmitted signal model is modified by equipping each platform with a linear uniform antenna array, enabling the same performance with lower power and providing a greater degree of freedom in the design of the transmitted signals than traditional methods. Moreover, the L∞‐norm is considered as a regularization term in the model to simultaneously realize FED and alleviate the grating lobes. To solve the nonconvex NP‐hard multiobjective optimization problem (MOP), block coordinate descent (BCD) is employed to separate the problem into two subproblems with respect to the amplitude and phase components of the signals. Then, these two subproblems are solved using Taylor expansion (TE) and the alternating direction penalty method (ADPM), respectively. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method exhibits superior performance compared to previous methods.
SIDO coupled inductor‐based high voltage conversion ratio DC–DC converter with three operations
Authors: Saadatizadeh Zahra , Chavoshipour Heris Pedram , Babaei Ebrahim , Blaabjerg Frede , Cecati Carlo
Published: May 2021

Here, a single‐input, dual output (SIDO) coupled inductor‐based high voltage conversion ratio DC–DC converter is proposed. The proposed converter has the capability of operating as a SIDO converter in a way that the terminal of the input voltage source is exchangeable among the three ports. Therefore, there are three different operation modes for the proposed converter. The voltage conversion ratios of the high voltage ports over the low voltage port can be improved by increasing the turn ratio of the coupled inductors. The main advantage of the proposed converter is achieving high voltage gains with lower number of components for the whole range of duty cycles comparing to the conventional multi‐port high voltage gain converters. Moreover, two output voltages of the proposed converter can be simultaneously regulated on different constant levels with a good precision. In this study, the voltage conversion ratios, the inductors’ average currents, the voltage and current stress on the switches are calculated theoretically. Finally, an experimental prototype of 30 V input and 410, 260 V outputs with the power 510 W is implemented and the results are verifying the theoretical ones.
MILCANN: A tSZ map for galaxy cluster detection assessed using a neural network
Authors: Hurier G. , Aghanim N. , Douspis M.
Published: May 2021

We present the first combination of a thermal Sunyaev-Zel’dovich (tSZ) map with a multi-frequency quality assessment of the sky pixels based on artificial neural networks with the aim being to detect tSZ sources from submillimeter observations of the sky by Planck. We present the construction of the resulting filtered and cleaned tSZ map, MILCANN. We show that this combination leads to a significant reduction of noise fluctuations and foreground residuals compared to standard reconstructions of tSZ maps. From the MILCANN map, we constructed a tSZ source catalog of about 4000 sources with a purity of 90%. Finally, we compare this catalog with ancillary catalogs and show that the galaxy-cluster candidates in our catalog are essentially low-mass (down to M500 = 1014 M⊙) high-redshift (up to z ≤ 1) galaxy cluster candidates.
Optimization models for a lot sizing and scheduling problem on parallel production lines that share scarce resources
Authors: Alves de Oliveira Soler Willy , Oliveira Santos Maristela , Rangel Socorro
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this paper is to propose mathematical models to represent a lot sizing and scheduling problem on multiple production lines that share scarce resources and to investigate the computational performance of the proposed models. The main feature that differentiates this problem from others in the literature is that the decision on which lines to organize should be taken considering the availability of the necessary resources. The optimization criterion is the minimization of the costs incurred in the production process (inventory, backlogging, organization of production lines, and sequence-dependent setup costs). Nine mixed integer optimization models to represent the problem are given and, also, the results of an extensive computational study carried out using a set of instances from the literature. The computational study indicates that an efficient formulation, able to provide high quality solutions for large sized instances, can be obtained from a classical model by making the binary production variables explicit, using the facility location reformulation as well as the single commodity flow constraints to eliminate subsequences. Moreover, from the results, it is also clear that the consideration of scarce resources makes the problem significantly more difficult than the traditional one.
Matters of judicial practice of Sevastopol and the Republic of Crimea in the field of merchant shipping
Authors: Vasiliev Stanislav Aleksandrovich
Published: May 2021

Merchant shipping is one of the most demanded types of transportation in the modern world. According to some reports, up to 80% of all cargo is transported by sea. In this regard, the issues of legal regulation of this complex and full of implementation nuances activity acquire particular importance. The specific condition of such seaports as Sevastopol and several other ports on the Crimean Peninsula is since Russia is under the influence of negative economic measures (“sanctions”) imposed by a large number of foreign states. Under these conditions, with the same effect of international and Russian legislation in the entire territory of the Russian Federation, the nature of their application in some cases has a certain specificity concerning these territories. In this regard, the analysis of judicial practice in this area was of particular interest. The purpose of this study is to analyze judicial practice from the point of view of the implementation of international and Russian law norms in the field of merchant shipping, as well as to identify certain trends in the activities of the subjects of the relevant legal relations. Analysis, synthesis, the comparative method, and the method of expert assessments are the methods used in the preparation of this work. The following structural analysis of the available material was used: first, the judicial practice was studied, only after that the work with legislation and other sources was carried out. As a result of the performed research, some problematic aspects of the legal regulation of merchant shipping in Russia have been identified. The trends based on which the Russian maritime law can be transformed have also been identified. The novelty of the research lies in the combination of proposals for further improvement and law enforcement practice in the field of merchant shipping.
Monopoly of legal provisions
Authors: Sheremetyeva Anna Konstantinovna , Sofrina Zoya Fedorovna , Gamaley Artem Aleksandrovich , Novopashina Natalia Nikolaevna
Published: May 2021

The existing defect of the legal field in the form of the inconsistency of the norms that make it up, gives rise to inconsistency, imbalance of the main social regulator of social relations. Building the normative material without analysing the need to create a separate regulator, as well as the obligation to establish a relationship with existing norms, determined the significance of such a study. The definition of competition of norms is an object of scientific research quite often. However, the content of this category and its law enforcement significance, in our opinion, have not been established quite correctly. The presence of competition of norms indicates the inconsistency of legal regulators with the principles of certainty of law, fairness and stability of legal regulation, which affects the effectiveness of laws. The research patterns are due to the need for a systematic analysis of this institution in order to identify uncovered aspects in the construction of a clear, systemic and interdependent system of legal regulation. Purpose of the research. The importance of developing fundamentally new approaches to the institution of uncertainty mediated by the phenomenon of competition to overcome the imbalance of the existing legal system, in connection with the existing need to present the normative material unambiguously and clearly. Methods. In the course of the study, in combination with a complex and systemic analysis, the following general scientific methods of cognition were used: dialectical, hermeneutic, and synthesis methods, the method of ascent from the abstract to the concrete, and the method of generalization and comparison. Results and novelty. Competition of norms is the result of an incorrect construction of the system of legal norms indicating a certain artificiality of this definition regarding the possible flexibility of the legal system. In our opinion, an increase in monopoly and individualized norms will lead to a systematic nature of the normative material, as well as an increase in confidence in it on the part of all participants in legal relations. The certainty of law must become a legal axiom.
Entrepreneurial activity and family business in the period of reformation of the Russian legislation
Authors: Ilyina Olga Yuryevna , Ruzhentseva Marina Sergeevna , Safronova Svetlana Andreevna , Tyulin Aleksandr Vasilyevich , Artemyeva Aryuvseit Arabidinovna
Published: May 2021

Many sciences meet in the study of family business as a real phenomenon. Despite the fact that in most countries of the world, family business is a rather widespread and highly demanded legal phenomenon, in Russia family business is realized not so often and for the most part, remains strange for an ordinary entrepreneur. Family business in Russia seems to be a phenomenon that is not studied completely but requires special attention. Objective of the research: determination of the essence and main tendencies of the development of legal regulation of the entrepreneurial activity and family business in the period of reformation of the Russian legislation. This scientific research applied a dialectical method of cognition of legal processes and phenomena, used the general scientific methods of scientific cognition of the legal essence of entrepreneurial activity and family business, in particular, a historical method, a method of synthesis, analogy, formal logics, and also specific scientific methods of research of family business and business processes in the post-reform period. Results and novelty: Family business shall be a systemic element that connects the state with small and medium businesses. The introduction of such a form of business activity (family business) shall eliminate the problems and defects of legal regulation of issues arising when business is carried out by family members. It seems necessary to consider the entrepreneurial activity and family business as individual economic and legal phenomena and a grounding of family business as an independent complex legal institution. It is offered to specify the family (spouse) business as a legal entity in the law. Such changes are directed to the efficient legal regulation and establishment of economic conditions for strengthening of family business and development of the family as a social and economic community. The features of the special legal regime of the entrepreneurial activity of spouses are revealed.
Legal regulation of property insurance and law enforcement problems
Authors: Kurchinskaya-Grasso Natalia Olegovna , Goryacheva Elena Petrovna , Popov Igor Viktorovich , Abramova Anastasia Viktorovna , Pechkurov Viacheslav Aleksandrovich
Published: May 2021

In the context of modern economic and legal reality, property insurance plays an important role in civil-law relations. For the present, Russian citizens, individual entrepreneurs and commercial entities witness an increasing need for a firm guarantee of protection of property interests linked with performing different types of activities and as well with maintaining a certain standard of living. Analysis of legislation in force reveals some gaps in the legal regulation of insurance institutions as a whole as well as a property insurance contract in particular, that conditions much judicial conflict and occurrence of errors in law enforcement that impact negatively on the protection of legal rights and interests of insurance relations participants. Legal research of law in force, theoretical understanding and relevant judicial practice in the matters of property insurance regulation along with possible identification of existing problems and formulation of proposals on legislation improvement. The methodological base for the present research is represented by a set of general scientific and specific scientific methods of research activities, including a historical method, a method of formal logic, a method of system analysis, a research method, a comparative legal method, a statistical method, a functional-structural method, methods of analysis and synthesis, a method of specification and as well an empirical and theoretical method, i.e. analogy, deduction. The authors suppose that provisions of Chapter 48 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation must be completed with a separate norm on financial risk insurance as it is the case with property insurance, third-party liability insurance (damage liability insurance, contractual liability insurance) and entrepreneurial risk insurance in parallel with pointing out an object of insurance and cases when the conclusion of the mentioned contract is required. The authors prove the necessity to qualify the reinsurance contract as the property contract in line with other types thereof named in Article 929 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.
Criminal legal regulation of the blockchain functioning sphere in Russia: challenges and barriers
Authors: Mkrtchian Sona Martirosovna
Published: May 2021

Research background. Despite the enormous attention of the scientific community, legislators, and law enforcement officials to the development and implementation of measures to combat cybercrime, the sphere of blockchain functioning and cryptocurrency circulation remains outside the scope of most criminal law research. This causes perplexity in the context of the desire of state bodies to introduce blockchain technology in many significant areas of society, as well as to introduce a regulatory framework dedicated to the issues of private and public legal regulation of digital financial assets. Concerns are also caused by the increase in the number of cybercrimes and the increasing involvement in them of the blockchain technology and virtual currencies, the circulation of which is carried out based on blockchain. The need to study the prospects for criminal law regulation of the blockchain functioning spheres in the territory of the Russian Federation becomes more and more obvious in such conditions. Study objective: to identify and to study the main challenges (problems) for modern criminal law regulation of the blockchain functioning sphere, possible barriers (obstacles) that reduce the effectiveness of such regulation, as well as potential directions for responding to these challenges and overcoming such barriers. Methods: formal legal and comparative legal research methods are widely used in conjunction with systemic, logical, and philological methods of interpreting the norms of law. The empirical part of the study is based on the investigation of judicial and other law enforcement practices, as well as transcripts of meetings of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and information from the media about criminal offenses that have become widespread in the sphere of blockchain functioning. The analysis of modern foreign and Russian scientific literature relevant to the selected research topic is carried out. Results and novelty: it is the first time that comprehensive analysis of the challenges of the current stage of the blockchain functioning sphere development, as well as legislative, law enforcement, doctrinal, and social barriers for creating a system of effective and comprehensive criminal law regulation of the named sphere, is carried out. The author’s concept of the directions of responding to the analyzed challenges and overcoming the corresponding barriers is presented.
Victimological prevention of violent criminality against helpless victims: general theoretical analysis
Authors: Shikula Ilmira Rifkatyevna , Afanasyeva Svetlana Anatolyevna , Gavrilova Yuliya Vyacheslavovna , Danelyan Rita Surenovna , Danelyan Sergey Vladimirovich
Published: May 2021

The article discusses primary trends in prevention of violent criminality against rights and freedoms of helpless victims. Based on general theoretical methods of analysis and synthesis, generalization, citation, axiomatic methods, the authors come to a conclusion that to affect victimization processes of the most vulnerable part of population, it is required to create an informational basis covering a set of people acknowledged as helpless due to a disease or disability, of senior or minor age, as well as persons living in difficult families as potentially being at risk to be subject to criminal actions. In this connection, the authors believe that in the area of victomolgical protection of vulnerable citizens at the current stage, it is required to improve efficiency of law-enforcement activity in terms of prevention of breaches of social rights of this category of citizens, including rights for victimological rehabilitation, which requires improvement of legal mechanisms envisaging a system of measures for victimological prevention of violent criminality. Maximum possible promulgation of information concerning the number of registered crimes towards helpless victims is a relevant and vital need. First of all, this signifies attention exerted by law-enforcement authorities towards the most vulnerable part of population. Secondly, this forms an irreconcilable attitude of the society towards persons committing such crimes. Thirdly, this creates a basis to improve awareness of helpless persons relative to risks occurring due to their condition and to minimize the distrust syndrome occurring because of a stereotype concerning no possibility or desire of law-enforcement authorities to help them. Moreover, general public will have a complete and objective (rather than fragmentary) understanding covering the entire range of illegal actions committed against such victims.
Prevention of recidivism: experience and innovations
Authors: Krainova Nadezhda Aleksandrovna , Khlebushkin Artem Gennadievich , Oleynik Dimitri
Published: May 2021

The state of recidivism indicates that the theoretical, legislative and law enforcement issues of its prevention is still relevant. There are different levels and directions of this warning. When developing and implementing appropriate measures, it is necessary to consider the current situation and existing opportunities in a particular state, the positive experience accumulated in it, the practices implemented in other countries, as well as the prospects for development. This study was conducted to reveal the opinions of convicts and employees of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia on certain issues of preventing recidivism, as well as to develop proposals for improving measures aimed at this prevention, with regard to the state of recidivism. The study analyzed and summarized official statistical data, conducted a questionnaire survey of convicts and employees of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia, studied the experience of other countries in the sphere of the penitentiary and post-penitentiary impact on convicts, and studied the results of studies conducted by other authors. The work presents the results of the analysis and synthesis of statistical data on recidivism over a long period, as well as the data of the author’s survey, and articulates specific proposals for changing existing and new developing measures to prevent recidivism.
Operational and Intelligence Activities of the Law Enforcement Agencies in the System of Ensuring National Security
Authors: Melikhov Alexander Ivanovich , Pratsko Gennady Svyatoslavovich , Chistova Victoria Aleksandrovna , Tyutyunik Olga Dmitrievna , Nenakhova Olga Aleksandrovna
Published: May 2021

The transition to the postmodern stage of development of Russian society, by the subsequent change of the system of civilizational values, required the scientific development of a new attitude to security as a basic human need with regard to changing the nature of traditional threats and interests and the emergence of completely new ones. The process of globalization being developed in the information age weakens traditional state institutions and requires a new look at national security not only as a category of foreign policy and military matters but also as an internal problem solved through operational and intelligence activities. The purpose of the study was to identify the current problems in the theory of national security by means of an analysis of scientific studies of the phenomenon of security in Russia; to consider security as a function and feature of the social system; to consider the Operational and intelligence activities of the law enforcement agencies as a mean for ensuring national security; to identify the conditions and factors of operational and intelligence activities that negatively affect the effectiveness of ensuring national security. In the course of the research, using computer indexing, about 1300 scientific, educational and methodological sources on national security and internal affairs issues have been processed and analyzed in the semantic, philosophical and legal aspects. The study examines modern theoretical and practical problems of ensuring national security as part of operational and intelligence activities of the law enforcement agencies. Operational and intelligence activities is considered in the national security system as a means of its information support, as well as as a tool for combating criminal, military and other threats. For the first time, considered are the conditions and factors of the operational and intelligence activities that negatively affect the effectiveness of ensuring national security.
Prosecutor’s activity model as the most important guideline for reforming the system of criminal proceedings
Authors: Manova Nina Sergeevna , Churikova Anna Yurievna
Published: May 2021

The problems associated with the development of a normative model of the prosecutor’s activity in criminal proceedings and the way in which such a model can affect the direction of reforming the entire criminal process are considered by the authors. Purpose: to analyze the influence of the prosecutor’s activity model on the effectiveness of achieving the purpose of criminal proceedings, to propose the directions for reforming the criminal justice system. Methods: The study uses the method of legal modeling, statistical and sociological methods of cognition, as well as the comparative legal method. Results and novelty: The novelty of the study is expressed in the fact that for the first time an attempt was made to reveal the influence of the prosecutor’s activity model on the directions of reforming the criminal proceedings. The results of the study include the identification of the main factors that determine the construction of a legal model of the prosecutor’s activity in the field of criminal proceedings and the determination of the directions of the possible influence of this model on the reform of the system of criminal proceedings.
Problems of checking personal data of jury members: Russian and foreign experience
Authors: Nasonov Sergey Aleksandrovich , Strelkova Yuliya Vladimirovna
Published: May 2021

A prerequisite of the research of issues covered by this paper is the relevance of the existing problem of collecting and checking personal data of jury members (or jury member candidates) to verify information reported by them at the stage of jury formation. The purpose of this research is to define a link between checking the personal data of jury members and the legal nature of jury proceedings and to find a balance between the need to restrict access need to ensure the legal composition of the court. To address these issues, the paper studies doctrinal approaches of Russian and foreign scientific literature, uses analysis methods, legal-technical and comparative-legal methods. This research has found that collecting and verifying personal data of jury members is typical of Russian and foreign models of proceedings in a jury court. However, a balance between the need of such research and ensuring the independence of jury members in the Russian court practice is not always observed, which is caused by gaps in legal regulation. Therefore, it seems interesting to study approaches to legal regulation of such practice in foreign models (anonymous jury and conditions of disclosing data of jury members; restricting the right to collect data of jury members in the USA after adjuration). These research results are new since they have not been described in the Russian legal periodicals and monographic literature. New research results are represented by describing problems of obtaining information of jury members by prosecution authorities, which is relevant for Russia and has never been studied before.
Models of procedural management of criminal prosecution in Russia and foreign countries
Authors: Alekseeva Elena Sergeevna , Vasilev Fedor Yurevich , Lantukh Nataliya Viktorovna , Makarenko Maksim Anatolevich , Shestakova Sofya Dmitrievna
Published: May 2021

The article is devoted to the study of foreign and Russian models of procedural management of criminal prosecution. The authors propose general theoretical approaches that made it possible to conduct their systemic analysis and comparison. Prerequisites for the research: the necessity to reform legislation in terms of procedural management of criminal prosecution, optimize the distribution of procedural functions between the official subjects of criminal procedural activity. Purpose of the research: to create a theoretical model of procedural management of criminal prosecution based on historical and comparative-legal analysis of Russian and foreign structures. Results and novelty: An abstract (theoretical) model of managing criminal prosecution is a set of procedural parameters reflecting: 1) The coincidence of the head of the criminal prosecution and the subject who initiated it, or the absence of such a coincidence; 2) Unity or plurality of subjects of procedural management, their subordination; 3) The presence or absence of a combination of managerial powers with supervisory and control powers; 4) Correlation of the management with the procedural independence of the subject conducting the criminal prosecution; 5) The coincidence of the head of the criminal prosecution and the public prosecutor in one person; 6) Freedom and limits of disposal of the subject of criminal prosecution, and criminal action; 7) The powers of the head of the criminal prosecution to terminate the case and withdraw the charges. The scientific novelty of the research is determined by the range of analyzed problems, taking into account the changes that occur in the field of criminal proceedings, as well as the need for an optimal distribution of powers in the procedural management of criminal prosecution.
Reasonable or objective term in criminal proceedings?
Authors: Medvedeva Svetlana Valentinovna , Popov Aleksey Mikhailovich , Kopylova Olga Petrovna , Burtseva Elena Vasilyevna , Seleznev Andrey Vladimirovich
Published: May 2021

The course for the transformation of criminal proceedings held in Russia already bears certain fruit and this is stipulated by the democratic transformations taking place in the country. The prerequisite of the research of a reasonable term of criminal proceedings was the fact that the urgency of the criminal trial is of interest not only for scientists and law-makers but also for the accused, defendants, and victims, whose rights are breached in long-term criminal proceedings. The state shall guarantee the compensation of harm for the delay of terms of criminal proceedings not only to the accused and suspected but also to the victims. For this, it is necessary to use certain criteria that explain what terms should be considered reasonable. When writing the article, the authors used the methods of analysis, synthesis, logical and system approaches. As the study of the problem was performed by the authors from the point of view of the two aspects of its understanding – from the scientific point of view and administration of law, eventually the chosen methods allowed reaching the set objective of the research – to reveal the peculiarities of a reasonable term of criminal proceedings and also to develop suggestions for the improvement of legislation in the field under consideration. The authors believe that the preliminary investigation and the trial should determine the acceptable or objective term of criminal proceedings to deliver a fast, legal, and relevant judgment upholding by this the rights of all participants in the process. Basing upon the issue declared, the authors analyze the concept of a reasonable term in criminal proceedings, how it is implemented in practice, and propose to legislate the concept of the reasonable term in Article 5 of the Russian Federation Code of Criminal Procedure.