bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin with Metabolic Syndrome in US Adults: Insights from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013–2016
Authors: Yang Yang , Wang Jie , Liu Yuhang , Liu Shuwan , Liu Huabao , Tan Meiao
Published: March 2024

Background
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) poses a significant public health challenge worldwide, significantly impacting the health and quality of life of individuals. Increasing evidence suggests a strong correlation between MetS and sex hormone levels. The objective of this study is to explore the possible relationship between sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and Mets, aiming to furnish evidence that could inform the development of effective prevention strategies for Mets.
Methods
The data for this cross-sectional investigation were collected during the 2013–2016 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), from which 5,499 adults were sampled. The criteria established by the Adult Treatment Program III of the National Cholesterol Education Program were utilized to define MetS. SHBG were measured using a standardized technique. Multivariable-adjusted Logistic regression analysis, curve fitting, and threshold effects analysis were utilized to investigate the association between SHBG levels and Mets. Moreover, the stratified analyses and interaction tests of covariables were presented in the forest plot. Finally, sensitivity analysis was utilized to ensure the the robustness of the results.
Results
Among the participants, 1822 those had Mets. After adjusting for possible confounders, the SHBG level was associated with Mets (Odds ratio [OR], 0.984; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.981–0.986; P < 0.01). The multivariable restricted cubic spline demonstrated a non-linear association between SHBG and Mets (P < 0.001). With two piecewise regression models, the adjusted OR of developing Mets was 0.964 (95% CI, 0.959–0.969; P < 0.001) among people with SHBG < 76.653nmol/L, but there was no correlation between SHBG and Mets in participants with SHBG ≥ 76.653nmol/L. The stability of the association between SHBG and MetS was confirmed through subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that reduced SHBG levels are associated with an increased prevalence of MetS in adults, particularly when SHBG levels are below 76.653 nmol/L. More investigation is required to comprehend the mechanisms underlying these results and to delve into their clinical implications.
A comparative study of remimazolam and midazolam in elderly patients during general anesthesia：a randomized controlled study
Authors: Yang Wan-jun , Geng Zhi-long , Gao Yuan-yuan , Cui Chao-yuan , Chen Zheng-ze , Tian Zi-wei , Guo Xi-lin , Zhang Ya-nan , Wang Lu , Huo Rui , Ma Chen-wei , Niu Jing
Published: March 2024

Background
Elderly patients are a vulnerable group with an elevated perioperative risk.Reduce the duration of anesthesia is important for older patients.Remimazolam is a benzodiazepine sedative that is indicated for the induction and maintenance during general anesthesia,with supposed advantages of rapid induction and rapid recovery.Most reports focused on non-elderly patients.
Aim
To compared the time of lost consciousness、PACU stay time and occurrence of adverse events in patients who are older than 65 years undergoing general anesthesia with remimazolam versus midazolam.
Methods
This study was conducted in a university hospital between February 2022 to March 2023. We included 100 patients aged 65 years or older under general anesthesia. Patients were administered intravenous remimazolam combined with midazolam. The primary outcome was the lose consciousness time. The secondary outcomes included the extubation time and the PACU stay time. We also recorded the total anesthesia time、extubation time、total dosage of drug administered、flumazenil use percentage and the occurrence of adverse events.
Results
A total of 96 patients undergoing general anesthesia were included in the final analysis, with 46 patients in remimazolam group, and 50 patients in midazolam group.The lose consciousness time was 304(222, 330)seconds in the remimazolam group and 95༈67, 25༉seconds in the midazolam group ,it was significantly lower in the midazolam group than in the remimazolam group (p = 0.000).The extubation time was 24.93 ± 11.617 minutes in the remimazolam group and 34.88 ± 19.740 minutes in the midazolam group ,it was significantly lower in the remimazolam group than in the midazolam group (p = 0.003).The PACU stay time was 55༈48, 64༉minutes in the remimazolam group and 65༈55, 85༉minutes in the midazolam group ,it was significantly lower in the remimazolam group than in the midazolam group (p = 0.001).The flumazenil use percentage was 6% in the remimazolam group and 20% in the midazolam group, it was significantly lower in the remimazolam group than in the midazolam group (p = 0.003).The possibly related to the intraoperative awareness percentage was 8.7% in the remimazolam group and 16% in the midazolam group, and there were no significant differences btween two groups (p = 0.280).
Conclusion
General anesthesia with remimazolam have proved the efficacy and safety in the surgery of elderly patients.The extubation time、PACU stay time and flumazenil use percentage was significantly lower in remimazolam than midazolam for elderly patients.
Indole moiety bearing Pyrimidine-2-thiolderivatives: Synthesis, Characterization and their insilico molecular docking studies in comparison to standard ligand drug
Authors: Neelaveni K. , RajendraPrasad Y. , Krishna K. , Lavanya J , k K. Srikanth
Published: March 2024

A novel indole moiety bearing pyrimidine-2-thiol derivatives was synthesized from chalcones using a designed synthesis procedure, a reaction of substituted acetophenones and indole-3-aldehyde. Further synthesized chalcones upon reaction with thiourea give novel pyrimidine derivatives bearing indole moiety. The developed indole-bearing pyrimidine2-thiol derivatives were characterized by physical and spectral analysis. Molecular docking studies were carried out at various targets using Auto Dock Vina software and revealed that some pyrimidine derivatives exhibit significant binding interaction with the active site regions of cyclooxygenase-1 (PDB ID: 3KK6), cyclooxygenase-2 (PDB ID: 5IKR) in comparison to standard ligand drug.
The prognostic impact of perioperative inflammatory status in elderly patients with gastric cancer
Authors: Toyokawa Takahiro , Yoshii Mami , Ishidate Takemi , Miyamoto Hironari , Kuroda Kenji , Miki Yuichiro , Tamura Tatsuro , Lee Shigeru , Yashiro Masakazu , Maeda Kiyoshi
Published: March 2024

Background
This study aimed to elucidate pre- and postoperative inflammatory prognostic factors, and to evaluate the impact of a combined perioperative inflammation marker for survival in elderly patients with gastric cancer.
Methods
We retrospectively examined 193 consecutive elderly patients ≥75 years of age who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Preoperative white blood cell (WBC) count (pre-WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) level (pre-CRP) and postoperative maximum WBC count (WBCmax) and maximum serum CRP level (CRPmax) were evaluated as prognostic inflammation markers.
Results
Among prognostic inflammation markers, multivariate analysis revealed pre-CRP and WBCmax as independent prognostic factors (Hazard ratio (HR) 1.645, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.015–2.652, p = 0.043 and HR 1.913; 95%CI 1.142–3.221, p = 0.014, respectively). Perioperative inflammation score (PIS) constructed with pre-CRP and WBCmax allowed clear classification of patients into three groups for survival, and was revealed as an independent prognostic factor (PIS 1: HR 1.512, 95%CI 0.891–2.607 and PIS 2: HR 3.868, 95%CI 2.032–7.267, p < 0.001).
Conclusions
High pre-CRP and high WBCmax were independent prognostic factors for OS in elderly patients with gastric cancer after R0 resection. Furthermore, PIS is a promising prognostic indicator and may help surgeons offer optimized treatment strategies for elderly patients with gastric cancer.
Effects and mechanisms of jujube juice components on degradation of Alternaria mycotoxin by cold plasma
Authors: Wang Xiaoyuan , Liu Qing , Han Yike , Ge Zhenzhen , Wei Xiaopeng , Yan Yizhe , Zong Wei
Published: March 2024

The study examined the impact of jujube constituents on cold plasma (CP) degradation of alternariol (AOH) and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), followed by assessing changes in CP electrochemical properties. The correlation between these properties and toxin degradation was analyzed to understand how jujube components influence the breakdown of AOH and AME. Results showed that when treated with CP for 3 minutes, 0.00350 mg/mL jujube protein degraded 49.0% of AOH and 48.8% of AME. Under the same treatment time, 0.0500 mg/mL jujube polysaccharide degraded AOH by 74.6% and AME by 95.8%. Conversely, Vc, K+, Ca2+, oleic acid, and linoleic acid exhibited negligible inhibitory effects on toxin degradation. Furthermore, following CP treatment, oxidation-reduction potential (△ORP), pH, conductivity, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical (•OH), nitrate ion (NO3−), and nitrite ion (NO2−) contents in the jujube protein or polysaccharide system were significantly correlated with toxin degradation; thus confirming their association with reactive oxygen-nitrogen species (RONS). The presence of jujube protein or polysaccharide hindered the degradation of CP-mediated toxins by consuming reactive RONS resources. This study provides insights into how AOH and AME in jujube juice are degraded by CP, enabling more targeted and efficient elimination of foodborne toxins.
Collecting routine and timely cancer stage at diagnosis by implementing a cancer staging tiered framework: The Western Australian Cancer Registry experience
Authors: Smith Shantelle J , Moorin Rachael , Taylor Karen , Newton Jade , Smith Stephanie
Published: March 2024

Background Current processes collecting cancer stage data in population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) lack standardisation, resulting in difficulty utilising diverse data sources and incomplete, low-quality data. Implementing a cancer staging tiered framework aims to improve stage collection and facilitate inter-PBCR benchmarking.
ObjectiveDemonstrate the application of a cancer staging tiered framework in the Western Australian Cancer Staging Project to establish a standardised method for collecting cancer stage at diagnosis data in PBCRs.
Methods The tiered framework, developed in collaboration with a Project Advisory Group and based on breast, colorectal, and melanoma cancers, provides business rules for stage collection. Tier 1 represents the highest staging level, involving complete American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumour–node–metastasis (TNM) data collection and other critical staging information. Tier 2 (registry-derived stage) relies on supplementary data, including hospital admission data, to make assumptions based on data availability. Tier 3 (pathology stage) solely uses pathology reports.
Findings The tiered framework promotes flexible utilisation of staging data, recognising various levels of data completeness. While Tier 1 is suitable for all purposes, including clinical and epidemiological applications, Tiers 2 and 3 are recommended for epidemiological analysis alone. Lower tiers provide valuable insights into disease patterns, risk factors, and overall disease burden for public health planning and policy decisions. Capture of staging at each tier depends on data availability, with potential shifts to higher tiers as new data sources are acquired.
ConclusionsThe tiered framework offers a dynamic approach for PBCRs to record stage at diagnosis, promoting consistency in population-level staging data and enabling practical use for benchmarking across jurisdictions, public health planning, policy development, epidemiological analyses, and assessing cancer outcomes. Evolution with staging classifications and data variable changes will futureproof the tiered framework. Its adaptability fosters continuous refinement of data collection processes and encourages improvements in data quality.
Virtual reality cue exposure as an add-on to smoking cessation group therapy: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kroczek Agnes , Schröder Benedikt , Rosenbaum David , Mühleck Axel , Diemer Julia , Mühlberger Andreas , Ehlis Ann-Christine , Batra Anil
Published: March 2024

Background: Cue exposure (CE) is used for relapse prevention as part of smoking cessation therapy to reduce the automatized response to smoking-related cues. Using CET in virtual reality (VR) is an approach to increase its efficacy by creating cost-efficient high-risk situations. The efficacy of VR-based CETs was compared to that of an unspecific relaxation intervention as an add-on to an established cognitive-behaviorally oriented smoking cessation group therapy (G-CBT).
Methods: N=246 abstinence-motivated smokers were included in a two-armed randomized controlled trial (G-CBT with VR-CET vs. G-CBT with progressive muscle relaxation/PMR) with 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups (measurements in 2018-2020). All smokers joined a well-established G-CBT smoking cessation program with six sessions of two additional therapies: four sessions of VR-based smoking cue exposure therapy (VR-CET) and four sessions of group-based PMR. The primary outcome was abstinence after 6 months according to the Russell Standard; secondary outcomes were the number of smoked cigarettes, craving (assessed by the Questionnaire of Smoking Urges/QSU), and self-efficacy (assessed by the Smoking Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale/SES).
Results:Primary outcome: Six months after G-CBT, 24% of the participants were abstinent, and there was no significant difference between the PMR (n=34/124) and VR-CET (n=24/122) groups (odds ratio (PMR)/VR = 0.64). Secondary measures: SES increased, and QSU and the number of smoked cigarettes decreased over time. Baseline craving ratings predicted abstinence only in the VR-CET group.
Discussion:Compared with G-CBT combined with PMR, G-CBT combined with VR-CET did not improve smoking cessation rates. This result is possibly related to an insufficient amount of training in the subgroup of smokers with intense initial cravings.
Conclusion: This randomized controlled trial did not show increased abstinence rates related to smoking cue exposure in virtual reality. However, maximum baseline cravings revealed a predictive value for abstinence in the VR group. This may indicate that the amount of training was insufficient and should be intensified. Individualization, e.g., adaptive, individualized approaches, is required to improve the effects of the VR-CET on smoking cessation in future studies.
Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03707106
Effect of differentiated service delivery models for HIV treatment on healthcare providers’ job satisfaction and workloads in sub-Saharan Africa: a mixed methods study from Malawi, Zambia, and South Africa
Authors: Ntjikelane Vinolia , Phiri Bevis , Kaiser Jeanette L. , Rosen Sydney , Morgan Allison J , Huber Amy , Mokhele Idah , Tchereni Timothy , Ngoma Stanley , Mulenga Priscilla Lumano , Pascoe Sophie , Scott Nancy
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Differentiated service delivery (DSD) models for HIV treatment aim to improve healthcare providers’ quality of professional life by reducing the patient/provider ratio and allowing for more time with recipients-of-care in need. We investigate current job satisfaction and perceived changes in job satisfaction among HIV treatment providers in Malawi, South Africa, and Zambia after the adoption of DSD models of care in each country.
Methods: We conducted a concurrent, cross-sectional mixed-methods survey with clinical and non-clinical HIV care providers between April 2021 and January 2022 at public sector clinics in Malawi (n-12), South Africa (n=21), and Zambia (n=12). Questions investigated the effect of DSD models on provider responsibilities, work burden, time allocation, and job satisfaction. We conducted a principal components analysis using questions with responses to create an index score for job satisfaction and estimated odds ratios using logistic regression for associations between key variables and low reported job satisfaction. We reported emerging qualitative themes. We use Herzberg’s two-factor theory to organize and interpret the results of the study, identifying motivating factors (which lead to job satisfaction) and hygiene factors (which we refer to as maintenance factors and which lead to dissatisfaction if lacking).
Results: Providers had generally high job satisfaction. Providers from Malawi were more likely to report lower job satisfaction than those from South Africa or Zambia. (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) [2.12, 9.80]) ). Providers who believed their jobs became harder after the introduction of the DSD models (2.82[1.14-6.96]) or did not change (6.50[2.50-16.89]) were more likely to report lower job satisfaction. Qualitatively, providers felt DSD models improved their working conditions by decongesting the clinics and allowed them to spend more time on other tasks. Providers were particularly motivated when they could spend more time with patients.
Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of DSD models in maintaining or improving healthcare providers' quality of professional life and underscore the need for continued monitoring of the impact of these models on job satisfaction among HIV treatment providers in resource constrained settings.
Real-Time Prediction of Strata Conditions in Front of EPB Shield based on Bayesian Algorithms
Authors: Wu Huaina , Wu Yanwen , Chen Hongzhan , Fu Xiangshen , Yang Zihan , Wang Kewei , Chen Renpeng
Published: March 2024

Prediction of strata conditions is one of the essential tasks in shield tunneling. the variability of strata and the uncertainty of construction bring greater challenges to prediction. The uncertainty was introduced to improve the accuracy and reliability of results. By combining the Bayesian algorithms with machine learning method, the prediction of strata conditions in front of shield machine was performed in this paper, based on the shield parameters. According to the engineering operation logic and correlation analysis, six main shield parameters are selected as input parameters. Thereafter, the Bayesian SoftMax Regression and Bayesian Neural Network with Markov Monte Carlo and Variational inference are adopted for the prediction. Accuracy index (Acc) and uncertainty validity index (Acc-prob) are proposed to evaluate the performance of Bayesian models. As the conclusion, Bayesian algorithms can effectively improve the prediction accuracy and provide reliable guidance for prediction of strata conditions in EPB shield. Simultaneously, it is crucial to select appropriate Bayesian models and inference methods tailored to the dataset's scale.
Transforming Lives: Evaluating Quality of Life Enhancement in Hemifacial Spasm Patients through Microvascular Decompression - A HFS-5 Grading Questionnaire Study
Authors: Zhao Puyuan , Sun Chongjing , Xu Jin , Li Chen , Zhang Xiaobiao , Zhang Yu , Zhu Wei
Published: March 2024

Background
Hemifacial spasm (HFS), a neuromuscular disorder affecting facial muscles, is commonly treated with microvascular decompression (MVD). This study aims to validate the HFS-5 grading questionnaire in assessing health-related quality of life improvements post-MVD.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 147 out of 239 HFS patients treated with MVD from January 2018 to December 2021. The HFS-5 questionnaire was used to evaluate the patients' health-related quality of life before and after surgery. Statistical analyses included paired sample t-tests, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), Cronbach’s α, and Bland-Altman plot.
Results
The study group comprised 34.7% males and 65.3% females, with an average age of 55.5 years. Most patients exhibited grade 3 or 4 severity. Severity of HFS was reduced significantly post-treatment, with the majority of patients (81.6%) reporting complete or significant symptom relief. The AICA was the most common compressing vessel identified. Statistically significant improvements were observed in all five items of the HFS-5 questionnaire after the surgery. The questionnaire demonstrated high reliability and validity, with ICC values between 0.799–0.851 and Cronbach’s α ranging from 0.745–0.776. A significant correlation was found between preoperative scores and HFS severity, as well as between postoperative score reduction and improvement in severity. Furthermore, a strong agreement between the HFS-5 and HFS-8 evaluation methods was observed, affirming the consistency and reliability of these tools in assessing the quality of life in HFS patients.
Conclusion
MVD significantly enhances the quality of life for patients suffering from HFS, as evidenced by the improved HFS-5 scores post-surgery. The reliability and consistency of the HFS-5 questionnaire make it an effective tool for evaluating patient outcomes following MVD. These findings support the continued use of MVD as a treatment option for HFS, emphasizing its role in improving patient well-being and functionality.
The Modified CG Iterative Method for Solving the General Sylvester Matrix Equation *
Authors: Ma Changfeng , Xie Yajun
Published: March 2024

In this paper, a modified conjugate gradient (MCG) iterative algorithm is proposed for solving the general Sylvester matrix equation. Some numerical examples are given to compare the accuracy and efficiency of the MCG iterative method with CG method in the literature. The numerical results suggest that the MCG method is efficient, especially for some problems that can’t be solved using CG method.
BrainPixGAN: Generating Intraoperative MR with Mask-Based Generative Networks
Authors: Eker Ayse Gul , Pehlivanoglu Meltem Kurt , Duru Nevcihan , Dundar Tolga Turan
Published: March 2024

In recent years, there has been a significant focus on enhancing precision in brain tumor surgical treatments by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. This involves integrating AI algorithms with medical imaging. In this study, Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) were used to establish a relationship between preoperative MRI and resection cavity segmentation masks obtained from intraoperative ultrasound, aiming to generate a new intraoperative MR image free from the tumor. U-Net and U-Net with transfer learning were employed for resection cavity segmentations. The most successful model, U-Net + EfficientNetB7, achieved high scores. The resection cavity mask was applied to preoperative MRI using Pix2Pix, SPADE GAN, and BrainPixGAN. BrainPixGAN, incorporating transfer learning, outperformed the others. This innovative approach represents a pioneering effort in generating GAN models for intraoperative MR images, leveraging intraoperative ultrasound data, despite the challenges in setup and cost associated with intraoperative MR imaging.
Establishing Benchmarks for Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of sustainability criteria’s for performance assessment of group housing projects: in India
Authors: bhyan Parul , Shrivastava Bhavna , Kumar Nand
Published: March 2024

The construction industry needs a systematic, apparent sustainability assessment methodology that provides methodical, unambiguous direction on the way to sustainable development. The current sustainability rating systems' shortcomings include the exclusion of post-occupancy assessments, the absence of life-cycle assessments, and the imposition of certification additional costs. Focusing on constructions in India, the goal of the current study is to set benchmarks to investigate the influence of each criterion on sustainability across the building life cycle phases for qualitative and quantitative assessment, and min-max scores for significant sustainability criteria's. Benchmarking standards include the criteria’s importance and appraisal to assess the best and worst sustainable performance of high rise group housing projects (proposed and existing) within building life cycle stages. The sustainability criteria’s and associated score system are established after an exhaustive assessment of the existing literature review and existing Green Building Rating Systems specific to high-rise group housing projects. Subsequently, the methodology includes the Life cycle thinking approach for sustainability assessment in group housing projects, and establishing scoring system, ensuring viability for practitioners and non-practitioners. The findings demonstrate the importance of taking into account existing byelaws, standards, and guidelines and the inclusion of stakeholder participation (users) in sustainability assessment frameworks in India.
Editorial
Authors: Petri Pascale Stephanie , Krempkow René , Ebner Martin , Getto Barbara
Published: March 2024

Digitale Kompetenzen spielen mittlerweile in nahezu jedem Lebensbereich eine wichtige Rolle. Das Bildungssystem als Ganzes, insbesondere aber auch die Hochschulen, sind daher gefordert, Bildung in diesem Bereich anzubieten. Um dieser gesellschaftlich hoch relevanten Aufgabe nachkommen zu können, bedarf es der breiten Reflektion. In diesem Themenheft werden nicht nur die Definition und die Bedeutung digitaler Kompetenzen im Hochschulbereich aus verschiedenen Perspektiven beleuchtet, sondern es wird auch auf die Messung und Förderung dieser eingegangen. In insgesamt elf Beiträgen aus dem deutschsprachigen Hochschulraum werden verschiedenste empirische Erkenntnisse aus der Hochschulpraxis neben innovativen Lehrkonzepten und Förderansätze vorgestellt und Anregungen zur Weiterentwicklung und Beforschung digitaler Kompetenzen im Hochschulkontext präsentiert.
Gemeinsam stark: Wie Peer-Trainings die digitale Kompetenz von Studierenden fördern
Authors: Ianiro-Dahm Patrizia , Reher Alexandra , Syrek Christine
Published: March 2024

Die moderne Arbeitswelt erfordert digitale Kompetenz, doch Hochschulen mangelt es an Angeboten zum digitalen Kompetenzaufbau Studierender. Peer-Angebote können ein sinnvoller Ansatz zur Förderung digitaler Kompetenz sein, allerdings fehlen empirische Belege für deren Wirksamkeit. Die Studie setzt hier an und evaluiert den digitalen Kompetenzerwerb von Teilnehmenden fachübergreifender Peer-Trainings auf Grundlage des DigComp Rahmenmodells. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Trainings-Teilnehmende ihre digitale Kompetenz im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe signifikant stärker steigern konnten. Die Ausbildung zur bzw. zum Peer-Trainer:in sowie die Peer-Trainings wurden von allen Beteiligten sehr positiv bewertet.
Entwicklung einer Blended-Learning-Kompetenz bei Masterstudierenden der Berufs- und Wirtschaftspädagogik
Authors: Seitle Johannes
Published: March 2024

Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht, wie eine Blended-Learning-Kompetenz definiert und bei Studierenden der Wirtschafts- und Berufspädagogik durch erfahrungsbasiertes Lernen entwickelt werden kann. Den Anlass für dieses Vorhaben bilden neben den allgemein postulierten Digitalkompetenzen angehender Lehrkräfte insbesondere der novellierte § 19 Absatz 4 BaySchO (Bayerische Schulordnung), der Dis­‑tanzunterricht als Teil von Blended Learning abseits jeglicher Ausnahmesituationen an beruflichen Schulen in Bayern zulässt. In einem ersten Schritt wird die Genese des Blended-Learning-Kompetenzmodells nachgezeichnet, ehe eine Möglichkeit zur Entwicklung der Kompetenzen durch erfahrungsbasiertes Lernen vorgestellt wird.
Überfachliche Lehrevaluation: Eine partizipative Instrumentkonzeption
Authors: Hartwig Svenja Janina
Published: March 2024

Bei der hochschulischen Lehrevaluation ist eine möglichst gute Passung des Instruments mit den Rahmenbedingungen der Veranstaltung anzustreben. Insbesondere in transdisziplinären und heterogenen Veranstaltungen ist eine Anpassung der üblichen Evaluationsinstrumente angezeigt, um eine günstige Datenqualität zu erreichen. Der vorliegende Beitrag stellt Prozess und Ergebnis der partizipativen Entwicklung eines solchen Fragebogens vor. Das Instrument legt einen Fokus auf die Anpassung der Items an die Bedarfe überfachlicher Lehrveranstaltungen in unterschiedlichen Bereichen sowie auf die Möglichkeit einer flexiblen Anpassung. Weitere Schritte und Perspektiven werden abschließend diskutiert.
Principles of Brand Communications in Wartime
Authors: Skorokhod Tetiana
Published: March 2024

Introduction. In the conditions of war, brands must keep in touch with their audience and tell what exactly they are doing to win, support their team and develop the country’s economy, present the history of the brand in difficult conditions, in a new reality, with existing problems and achievements, broadcast important messages to support its customers. Under the influence of conditions of uncertainty, it was important for brands to transform their communications in accordance with the new reality and new characteristics of their consumers.
Relevance of the study. The relevance of the research is determined by the need to summarize the experience of Ukrainian brands in communication during the war and to single out the principles that characterize appropriate brand communication in conditions of uncertainty. The aim of the study is to summarize the experience of Ukrainian brands in communication during the war.
Methodology. The method of monitoring was used to review the activities of Ukrainian brands. The method of discourse analysis was used to clarify the context, the conditions in which brands communicated, the study of changing values, the spectrum of emotions, and consumer behaviour in conditions of uncertainty. With the help of the method of generalization, the provisions characterizing the appropriate communication of brands with their consumers in the conditions of war have been singled out.
Results. Under the influence of the war and the conditions of uncertainty, the communication of Ukrainian brands changed. In order to be closer to their audience, to connect with them, brands changed traditional communication parameters. Brands generated new types of content according to the contextual groups of the target audience, adjusted the brand voice, and applied modern communicative practices. There were no aspects that brands missed in their communication. The time and place of content publication, its volume, taking into account the emotional background of the audience for the broadcast of certain messages were important.
Conclusions. For the first time, brand communications in war conditions were comprehensively reviewed, the experience of Ukrainian brands in interaction with consumers was summarized and the principles of communications in war conditions were characterized, which can serve as a practical reminder for companies and organizations that seek to maintain contact with their audience in conditions of uncertainty.
Features of Coverage of the War in Ukraine On the Example of the Website of the Official Iranian Mass Media «Irna»
Authors: Kosiuk Oksana
Published: March 2024

Introduction. After the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine all countries of the world gradually got involved into the war which is perceived and viewed differently. Iran suddenly became one of the biggest challenges for the international community since it is a supplier of mass destruction weapons which almost caused the energy collapse of Ukraine in November-December 2022.
Relevance of the study. Despite the numerous statements of the leading mass media, Iran is still positioning its pacifism and non-involvement in the war in Ukraine. The USA, GB, Germany, France, Turkey, Israel get appropriately involve in the information conflict as one side and the other side is India, China, Syria, Afghanistan and other countries of the East.
Methodology. To find out what the matters, we decided to investigate the deployment of events and the development of confrontations on the pages of the most official Iranian mass media – the national news agency "Irna" with the help of content analysis, analogy, modelling and synthesis.
Results. As a result of the conducted research it became clear that during15 months of the war (having hesitated a little at its beginning) IRNA carefully "documented" the course of events, but it also revealed certain strategies for hiding uncomfortable information and activation of so-called jeansa (hiding advertisement). The most common ones include periodic repetition (almost instilling) of phrases about support for Ukraine and its territorial integrity; permanent introduction of Afghanistan, Palestine, Syria, Yemen in the context as it is also not peaceful in these countries, Israel, the USA and Turkey appear as a counterweight to the Ukrainian-Russian twists and turns; attempts to shift attention from the actual to the extraneous are also not neglected; common input of information on policies of Russia and Putin "under the sauce" of different protocol interviews, vlogs and "international expert evaluations"; very often the agency refers to dubious sources like social networks. However, even the strategic use of tricks does not make individual items of IRNA news at least seemingly credible. The thought involuntarily arises that public non-compliance with international standards has deep historical roots and is connected with sacred values.
Conclusions. Having carried out a superficial analysis of the history and religions of ancient Persia, we came to a logical conclusion: from the most ancient times to the present, the production of culture is subject to the law of sacred deception, known among Shia Muslims as taqiya and kitman. Thus, the official sources of the Islam Republic have the full right to lie. Yet, of course, all this requires additional research.
Coverage of fighting tasks of ukrainian aviation in documentaries
Authors: Melnykova-Kurhanova Olena , Ivashchuk Antonina , Bukina Nataliia
Published: March 2024

Introduction. Documentaries about Ukraine's aerospace industry create conditions for the audience to immerse themselves in the world of aviation, to feel the effect of being present during combat missions, to cover military events and military operations, but in the first place, they tell the story of a person or people. Documentary filmmakers touched upon the topic of aviation at the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2014 and 2015. After the full-scale invasion, the role of aviation became more important in the war, and a new wave of documentaries about military aviation appeared.
The peculiarities of covering the combat missions of Ukrainian aviation during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the use of the latest methods of recording events, transmitting testimonies, and creating images ofheroes in documentaries are the subject of this study.
The purpose of the study is to identify the features of contemporary television documentaries on aviation in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Research methods. The results of the study were obtained using theoretical, descriptive, comparative methods, and systematic monitoring of documentaries about Ukrainian military aviation. The features of these films were identified, in particular, by the following criteria: duration, methods of recording events and facts, peculiarities of presentation, creation of characters, artistic techniques. The documentaries from 2015 and 2023 were compared.
Results. We have analysed documentaries about the combat missions of Ukrainian aviation, such as Pilots. Return", "Masters of the Sky", "Downed Russian pilots". The authors of the films use the techniques of video portraits, video interviews, and comments by experts or heads of relevant structures. Testimonies and interpretations of events help the viewer to understand the specifics of aviation.
Conclusions. Documentary films enhance the publicistic images of heroes, including pilots and other aviation professionals, Ukrainian defenders, not only by recording facts, documenting events, testimonies, comments and interviews, but also by artistic techniques and editing.
«Fairy Land»: Altay in artistic report of V. Hzytsky
Authors: Bykova Olha
Published: March 2024

Introduction. The 1920s and the beginning of the 1930s forever entered the history of Ukraine as a period of incredible development of the cultural and artistic sphere. The rapid development of culture contributed to the spread of reporting, which helped readers to clearly, dynamically, in detail, and documentary accurately show a fragment of the life of that time.
Relevance and goal. The relevance of the research is determined by the fact that the genre-stylistic and thematic features of the reports of 1920−1930 are still under-researched and, therefore, require meticulous analysis. The goal is to investigate the specifics of the creation of the image of Altai in the Ukrainian literary reportage on the travel theme «Altai» by V. Hzhytsky based on a comprehensive and detailed analysis.
Methodology. To study the outlined issue, general scientific methods of material selection and systematization, comparative analysis, bibliographical-descriptive, cultural-historical, and descriptive analytical methods, as well as the method of generalization were used.
The results. Volodymyr Hzytsky's report «Altai», which he wrote after visiting the Oirot Autonomous Region in 1928, was thoroughly analyzed. The author chose a chronological type of composition, which allows him not only to describe events but also to share his impressions and thoughts from what he saw. V. Hzytsky tries to make his report as interesting as possible for the reader. That is why he talks in detail about the nature of Altai, the mentality, traditions, and culture of the local population. The language of the report is extremely simple, and informal. One gets the impression that the reporter is simply talking to his readers and conveying the necessary information to them.
Conclusions. Despite more than ninety years since it was written, V. Hzytsky’s literary report on the travel subject «Altai» is read with interest even today. V. Hzytsky’s observations are original, they do not repeat well-known truths – they are unexpected and always exciting. A vivid description of everything that the reporter saw, with his emotions, feelings, and impressions allows readers to feel the personal presence of the author, his «I». Thanks to the availability of a large amount of factual material, this report is especially valuable because it helps to feel the spirit of the era.
Use of carbon sorbents to extract manganese from solutions
Authors: Dudarev V. I. , Minaeva L. A.
Published: March 2024

One of the most common elements present in naturally occurring waters, manganese is an essential trace element, whose daily intake requirement by the human body is around 5–7 mg.  While a lack of manganese in drinking water can lead to negative health consequences, a high manganese content in water and increased daily intake leads to the blocking of enzymes used in the conversion of inorganic iodine to organic, additionally changing inactive diiodothyronine into the active hormone thyroxine. The study investigates the possibility of using carbon sorbents having a microporous structure to change the manganese content in aqueous solutions. The adsorption capacity of One of the most common elements present in naturally occurring waters, manganese is an essential trace element, whose daily intake requirement by the human body is around 5–7 mg.  While a lack of manganese in drinking water can lead to negative health consequences, a high manganese content in water and increased daily intake leads to the blocking of enzymes used in the conversion of inorganic iodine to organic, additionally changing inactive diiodothyronine into the active hormone thyroxine. The study investigates the possibility of using carbon sorbents having a microporous structure to change the manganese content in aqueous solutions. The adsorption capacity of manganese significantly depends on the acidity of the medium. The highest adsorption value of manganese (II) cations is observed in a weakly alkaline medium (pH 7.5). Kinetic studies demonstrated the possibility of describing the interaction using a pseudo first-order equation. The reaction rate constant as calculated by graphical and computational variants was 0.067 s-1. A functional assessment of the adsorption process can be represented by monomolecular adsorption isotherms, which are described by the classical Langmuir equation. The characteristic adsorption constant parameters were as follows: limiting adsorption value – 1.68 mmol/g; adsorption equilibrium constant – 0.979×103 at a temperature of 298 K. Gibbs energy at 298 K is equal to – 7.41 kJ/mol. The study of the process at elevated temperatures of 308, 318 and 328 K indicates its exothermic nature. With heating, the limiting adsorption decreases.
Amino acid composition of pollen Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus sibirica Du Tour growing in the Baikal region
Authors: Shiretorova V. G. , Erdyneeva S. A. , Radnaeva L. D.
Published: March 2024

The purpose of the study was to determine the qualitative and quantitative amino acid composition of pollen Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus sibirica Du Tour. Pine pollen was collected in June 2021 at natural sites on the southeastern coast of Lake Baikal. The mass fraction of crude protein was determined by the Kjeldahl method; the protein composition and individual amino acid content were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column modification of ninhydrin on an LA8080 automatic analyser (Hitachi, Japan). The crude protein content of the pollen was 14.38–15.94%. Pine pollen protein is shown to contain 17 amino acids, including 9 essential amino acids: valine, isoleucine, leucine, threonine, methionine, phenylalanine, lysine, histidine, and arginine. The content of the sum of amino acids was 141.4–156.5 mg/g, including essential amino acids 45.9-48.4%. The following amino acids are dominant in Pinus sylvestris and Pinus sibirica pollens (mg/g): monoaminodicarboxylic acids – glutamic (21.3–24.2) and aspartic (13.0–14.2), diaminocarboxylic acid arginine (17.0–17.4) and heterocyclic amino acid proline (14.7–16.2). The obtained results can be useful in the development of drugs and biologically active additives based on pollen Pinus sylvestris and Pinus sibirica, which, due to the presence of the above amino acids, have a nootropic, immunomodulatory, cardiac stimulating, and detoxifying effect.
Clinical and morpho-functional results of a second examination of a patient with optic nerve head drusen taken after a long-time interval (27 years)
Authors: Ioyleva E. E. , Kabanova E. A. , Belyanina S. I.
Published: March 2024

Optic disc drusen (ODD) is a bilateral anomaly of the optic nerve, in which hyaline calcified intercellular inclusions appear in the optic disc head area in front of the cribriform plate. As a rule, in the early stages, ODD patients have no complaints, central vision does not suffer, while perimetry data may show an expansion of the blind spot and narrowed visual field. As complications are developing and the optic nerve atrophy is progressing, visual acuity may decrease. The visual functions are deteriorating gradually. In the clinical case discussed, a patient with optic disc drusen was examined for a second time after a prolonged interval (27 years).The ophthalmoscopic picture and functional parameters obtained during this examination clearly confirmed the unfavorable course of optic disc drusen and the need for such patents to be regularly examined for changes in visual functions (visual field), the state of the retina and the optic nerve.
A clinical case of carotid-cavernous fistula
Authors: Israfilova G. Z. , Babushkin A. E. , Khismatullin R. R.
Published: March 2024

We present a case of carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) in a 52-year-old female patient who was urgently referred for surgical treatment of a left-sided orbital phlegmon. On the 62nd day after a traumatic brain injury, the patient revealed a visual impairment of the left eye, which was noticeably red and showed a moderate protrusion. The patient’s left orbit was urgently opened and drained.

She was undergoing an anti-inflammatory therapy and showed a positive dynamic of the disease, whilst on the 5th day after the procedure, the patient started feeling pain in the left eye and noise in the head. The data of ultrasound examination of the orbit and duplex scanning were largely consistent with a severe massive inflammatory infiltration of the retrobulbar tissue with hypervascularization (the orbital phlegmon could not be excluded). Only a selective computed tomography with angiography helped establish the final diagnosis: arteriovenous malformation in the projection of the supra-sphenoid section of the left internal carotid artery, with post-traumatic CCF on the left. After surgery (endovascular embolization of the CCF), a positive result was observed: with a positive result — no injection or pain in the left eye, exophthalmos gradually regressed. Yet the visual acuity of the left eye was 0.03 due to an atrophy of the optic nerve.

Conclusion. The ophthalmologists must be on the alert in cases of unilateral exophthalmos with a history of blunt head trauma, since neuro-ophthalmic symptoms are crucial in clarifying the indications for a prompt implementation of the only surgical treatment effective for this pathology, i.e. endovascular embolization.
The role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase — 1 in endogenous uveitis in children
Authors: Khrabrova M. A. , Katargina L. A. , Chesnokova N. B. , Denisova E. V. , Beznos O. V.
Published: March 2024

Purpose: to determine the content of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases — 1 (TIMP-1) in the tear and blood serum (BS) and to analyze how these parameters correlate with the clinical course of endogenous uveitis in children.

Materials and methods. 131 eyes with uveitis of 74 patients aged 3 to 17 (mean age 10.57 ± 3.29 years) were examined. The content of MMP-9 was found in 281 samples of the tear and 48 samples of BS. The dynamics of MMP-9 in the tear was studied in 55 patients (100 eyes), in BS — in 9 children. The content of TIMP-1 was studied in 173 tear samples and 25 BS samples. The dynamics of TIMP-1 was studied in the tear of 31 patients (56 eyes). The concentration of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was determined by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) using the kits ELISA for MMP-9/ELISA for tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor 1 (Cloud clone corporation, USA).

Results. The content of MMP-9 in the tear dropped compared to the control group (p = 0.09). The highest content of MMP-9 in panuveitis was found in the tear as compared to the anterior and intermediate uveitis (p = 0.01). The highest MMP-9 concentration was found in cases of 3rd degree of proliferation, in contrast to the 1st and 2nd degrees (p = 0.16). An increased content of TIMP-1 was found in the tear in subactive/intermediate uveitis in contrast to inactive uveitis (p=0.08). An imbalance of MMP-9 was revealed in relation to TIMP-1 in the tears. In the early postoperative period, an increase in the content of MMP-9 and a decrease in TIMP-1 in the tear returning to the initial level was noted, which corresponds to normal wound healing.

Conclusion. An increase in the content of TIMP-1 in the tear is associated with subactive/intermediate uveitis. The content of MMP-9 in the tear correlates with the proliferative process stage. A higher MMP-9 content in the tear in panuveitis, in contrast to the anterior and intermediate uveitis is associated with the involvement of all sections of the choroid of the eye into the inflammatory process. The decrease in the content of MMP-9 in the tears is probably explained by the inhibitory effect of glucocorticosteroid (GCS) therapy.
Observing one’s own macula
Authors: Dzhumagulov O. D.
Published: March 2024

A previously unknown technique of observation one’s macula is presented. Depending on the illumination of the room where the observer is present, the macula is visible in whitish-gray, yellowish, blue or green.