bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparisons of Genetic Architecture Using Polygenic Risk Scores Derived From Large-Scale Genome-Wide Association Study Data Between Patients With Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Healthy Controls
Authors: Lee Dong Eun , Choi Min Jun , Cho Eun Young , Ahn Yong Min , Lee Hyunju , Myung Woojae , Ha Tae Hyon , Kim Sung-Wan , Lee Heon-Jeong , Ha Kyooseob , Hong Kyung Sue , Baek Ji Hyun
Published: October 2024

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to compare the genetic architecture of schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) in a Korean population by analyzing polygenic risk scores (PRS) derived from large-scale psychiatric disorder genome-wide association study data, based on genetic information collected from SCZ, BD, and healthy control groups.Methods: The study included 713 Korean patients with SCZ, 1,317 with BD, 526 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed using the Korean Biobank Array. PRS-continuous shrinkage method was used to calculate the PRS. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to determine the association between SCZ or BD disorder and PRS after adjusting for sex.Results: ANCOVA revealed significant differences in PRS values by diagnosis for PRS for SCZ (F=215.281, p<0.001), PRS for BD (F=13.811, p<0.001), and PRS for major depressive disorder (F=6.042, p=0.002). Post-hoc analysis showed that PRS for SCZ was highest in SCZ, followed by BD, and healthy controls. PRS for BD was elevated in both BD and SCZ compared to healthy controls.Conclusion: Our study revealed quantitative differences in genetic architecture between SCZ and BD compared to healthy controls, while also suggesting a shared genetic background between the two disorders.
The Administration of the Process of Religious Revival during the Great Patriotic War by the Council for Affairs of Russian Orthodox Church at the USSR Council of People’s Commissars and by its Representatives in the Molotov Region
Authors:   Regional institute of continuous education at Perm State University, Marchenko Alexey N. , Chumachenko Tatyana А. ,   Chelyabinsk State University
Published: October 2024

Introduction. The article reveals the principles and the tasks of the Council for Affairs of Russian Orthodox Church at the USSR Council of People’s Commissars (further referred to as CA ROC) and its representatives for the Molotov (Perm) Region during the Great Patriotic War. It considers the forms of relations between the Council and the office of its representatives in the regions, the legal basis for their activities as the regional institute of state power. Aims. The article serves to investigate the activities of the first representatives of CA ROC in the Molotov region based on the archival documents that were for the first time introduced for scientific use. It gives the analysis of the role and the influence of representatives’ personal qualities on the character of the relationship with the ruling bishop, clergy and believers, on establishing relations between the state and the church in the region.Methods. The research methodology is based on the “new institutionalism” theory. The traditional methods and methods of historical science, in their dialectic interrelation, were used: problem and chronology, hermeneutical, comparative, biographic methods.Results. The research in the Perm Krai archives revealed the existence of earlier unknown documents concerning the identity of the first CA ROC representatives in the Molotov region, as well as the nature of their relationship with the head of the diocese and the central office of CA ROC. The comparative analysis of published documents contained in the regional archives was carried out. The published studies of Russian and foreign researchers on the activity of CA ROC during the Great Patriotic War were analysed.Conclusion. The analysis of the activity of the first representatives of the Council for the Molotov region makes it possible to consider that there are features typical for the process of establishing relationship between Church and the state across the whole of the USSR at the time. The analysis also provides for identifying specific features of that process in the region. On the one hand, the representatives promoted the reconstruction of the church and administrative structure, the opening of the churches, but on the other hand, their behavior revealed the emergence of a stereotype of a new government official “for religion affairs”, who maintained a personal conviction and claim on the right to dictate the terms to the church leadership and to interfere roughly into the activities of religious associations
DYNAMICS OF THE AREA OF OPEN SANDS IN THE STAVROPOL REGION IN 2022
Authors:   Federal Scientific Center of Agroecology, Integrated Land Reclamation and Protective Afforestation of the RAS, Doroshenko Valeriya V.
Published: October 2024

The article examines monthly dynamics of spatial distribution of open sands (desertification hotbeds and sand massifs) in the north-eastern part of the Stavropol region (Levokumsky and Neftekumsky districts) for 2022. The sands were mapped using GIS technologies and Earth remote sensing materials (Landsat-8, 9) for each month of 2022, with the exception of January,November, and December. The minimum identified area of open sands is 19.5 thousand ha (June), the maximum is 53.3 thousand ha (August), which is 6.3% of the total study area. The total increase in the area of open sands at the end of the year was 25.9 thousand ha (a twofold increase compared to the beginning of the year). For the entire period under study, almost 4 thousand sand plots were identified, with a total area of more than 300 thousand ha. During the study period, 14 dust storms were registered (with the total duration of 29 days). The most intense dust storm of these, with the highest wind speed and the lowest visibility, occurred in early March 2022, and it led to a 1.5-fold increase in the sand area. The largest increase in the area of open sands was noted in August (by 2.1 times, by 28 thousand ha), when the longest dust storms of the year occurred. The relationship between the duration of dust storms during a month and the increase in the area of open sands has been established. The study takes into account the salinization area in the form of sor depressions.
BEHAVIORAL GEOGRAPHY AS AN AREA OF THEORETICAL RESEARCH AND MODELING
Authors:   V.B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS, Lesnykh Svetlana I. , Cherkashin Alexander K. ,   V.B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS
Published: October 2024

The article discusses the concept of behavioral geography, defines its subject, basic methods, and models, showsthe difference between this approach and other areas of the theory of geographical science. Behavioral geography is analyzed within the intertheory of regulatory mechanisms in nature, society, and the economy – the interaction of components of integral geosystems that takes into account the peculiarities of the geographical environment as changing in time and space. A territorial object is studied in the local phase space of relative features that reflects the states of the individual system of behavior in space and time without taking into account the characteristics of the environment. The environmental geographic correction that binds the object to a specific territory is then factored in. Modeling procedures are based on ideas of differential geometry. From these metatheoretical positions, behavior is reflected by the Lagrange derivative formula and the Euler equation. There are distinguished holistic behavior, characterizing the trajectory of the geosystem as a whole, and the mechanical behavior, taking into account the mechanisms of interaction of parts of the whole in the control schemes, which unambiguously determines the subject of the intertheory of the behavior of systems. All this allows us to apply a broad arsenal of mathematical analysis methods used in mechanics, extending them to other processes in nature and society. There are distinguished stationary and non-stationary, stable and unstable, autonomous and non-autonomous behavior systems; the latter are associated with the impact of a variable environment and external management. Through the example of the life cycle of forest plantations, the paper describes the mechanisms of growth and self-thinning of stands in various geographical environments. We propose an algorithm of forecast modeling and mapping of forests with correction for completeness and site quality of plantations, based on similarity of time dependences of change in forest wood reserves. Forest geosystems are studied ‘in pure form’ for reference forests, and then, with the help of corrections, they are correlated with their environment, which regulates the behavior of a particular geosystem.
FORMATION OF A NETWORK OF INTERACTION AMONG UNIVERSITIES IN THE NORTH-WESTERN MACRO-REGION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Authors:   Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Azhinov Danil G.
Published: October 2024

The Strategic Academic Leadership Program ‘Priority 2030’ launched in 2021 has become the largest investmentprogram in the history of Russian higher school. Its distinctive feature is the special attention to the development of network interaction among institutions of higher education by creating consortia. The main declared goal of their creation is realization of breakthrough projects ensuring the country’s scientific and technological development. In the North-Western macro-region, 14 higher education institutions of different specializations and departmental affiliation from 4 constituent entities of the Russian Federation participate in the program. Total state investment over 3 years has amounted to 10 billion rubles.The study attempts to describe the main distinctive characteristics of the network interaction system comprising institutionsof higher education located in the North-Western macro-region and operating within the framework of the consortia.Development programs of the institutions and annual reports about their realization were examined using the methods of content analysis.As a result, 397 connections of parent organizations and partner organizations were identified, types of connections amongthem (educational, scientific, industrial, and others) were proposed. It is shown that the maximum concentration of partners is observed in the ‘metropolitan regions’ of Moscow and St. Petersburg, a small concentration – in the Volga–Kama macro-region, andrather insignificant – in the rest. A noticeable role belongs to foreign organizations from countries taking unfriendly actions againstthe Russian Federation. Despite the stated ‘product nature’ of the implementation of the Program ‘Priority 2030’, most of the ties are not industrial but scientific and educational in nature. This, as well as the over-concentration of partnerships, may necessitate adjustments to the development programs. Based on the analysis (with the hierarchical agglomerative clustering method) of the geographical proximity of partners, their number, the types of connections developed, a typologization of existing university consortia is proposed. Five main and two additional types are defined.All the source data used for analysis is presented in the repository, which is an integral part of the publication.
The Role of Regional Authorities in Ensuring Energy Security of RF Subjects
Authors:   Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Lapshina Ksenia M.
Published: October 2024

Introduction. Energy efficiency and energy security of Russia’s regions are among the main indicators of the national economy development, showing the degree of protection of the regional population and business from internal and external threats. They also reflect the sustainability level of economic and social spheres in the regions and increasingly determine the quality of life of the population. This is important in the context of sustainable development of territories and social communities. Various energy efficiency programs are a central component of the energy policy in many countries at federal as well as regional and local levels.Aims. Based on the analysis of modern scientific approaches in the field of sustainable development, energy efficiency and improving the quality of life of people, the research was aimed at a comparative study and analysis of dynamics of energy supply and energy efficiency in Russian regions, as well as studying the role of regional authorities in ensuring the energy efficiency of the regional economy.Methods. The research method is a comparative analysis of energy and energy efficiency ratings of Russian regions for 2011–2016.Results. Comparative analysis is an effective management tool that allows to control which regions are in line with the current state policy in improving energy efficiency and how successfully they achieve their goals.Conclusion. The results of the research are of practical importance from the point of view of identifying strengths and weaknesses in the regional and municipal authorities’ activities to ensure measures aimed at improving the energy efficiency of the regional economy and housing and communal services.
Effect of Ethyl Acetate on the Defatting of Leaves in the Extraction of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni
Authors: Celaya Liliana , Kolb Koslobsky Nicolás
Published: October 2024

Research background. The process for producing purified steviol glycosides from Stevia rebaudiana leaves (stevia) generally involves pretreatments, extraction, purification and crystallization. Pre-extraction or defatting can sometimes be a part of this process. It can remove impurities of low polarity, such as chlorophyll and fatty compounds. Nonpolar solvents can be used to defat stevia leaves.
Experimental approach. In this study, we investigated ethyl acetate as a pre-extraction solvent for the defatting of dried and crushed stevia leaves. We compared pure ethyl acetate and water-saturated ethyl acetate as pre-extraction solvents in percolation extraction. We then evaluated the effects of pre-extraction on the concentration and purity of the extracts obtained with ethanol/water solvents.
Results and conclusions. The recovery of nonpolar solvents was 2.3–3.9 % in pure ethyl acetate and 3.4–4.5 % in water-saturated ethyl acetate (from 40 to 60 °C). A low steviol glycoside loss can occur only with water-saturated ethyl acetate (on dry mass basis <0.5 %). In the Soxhlet extraction, the obtained yields were 8.43 with pure ethyl acetate and 10.44 % with water-saturated ethyl acetate. The steviol glycoside loss in the Soxhlet extraction was 10.70 % with water-saturated ethyl acetate. Defatted and non-defatted leaves were extracted with two ethanol/water solvents. Comparison of the results showed higher concentrations of glycoside in the pretreated leaves.
Novelty and scientific contribution. The pre-extraction with ethyl acetate followed by the extraction with ethanol/water solvent lead to a higher concentration of steviol glycosides and a higher purity of the extracts. Ethyl acetate can be used as a pre-extraction solvent for the defatting of stevia leaves in the industrial production of this sweetener.
Los colectivos artísticos y su voz a partir de los acuerdos de paz en Guatemala
Authors:   Universidad Rafael Landívar, Guatemala, García von Hoegen Magda Angélica
Published: October 2024

Este trabajo sintetiza un proceso de investigación iniciado en 2020, que continúa en la actualidad en el departamento de Ciencias Humanísticas, del ICESH, de la Universidad Rafael Landívar. Es una indagación sobre la producción cultural simbólica y el rol de los colectivos artístico- culturales urbanos en Guatemala a partir de la firma de los Acuerdos de Paz en 1996. En marzo de 2020, cuando el país se vio obligado a acatar estrictas normas de bioseguridad debido a la covid-19, se cerraron las fuentes de trabajo de numerosos sectores. Uno de los más afectados fue el del arte y la cultura, pues los lugares públicos fueron clausurados e históricamente este ámbito es uno de los más olvidados del Estado y la sociedad en general.
Unmasking population undercounts, health inequities, and health service access barriers across Indigenous populations in urban Ontario
Authors: Snyder Marcie , McConkey Stephanie , Brar Raman , Anilniliak Judy , Bourgeois Cheryllee , Dokis Brian , Hardy Michael , Joseph Serena , Kilabuk Amanda , Mattina Jo-Ann , McKnight Constance , Smylie Janet
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Our Health Counts (OHC) methods are designed to address gaps in urban-based Indigenous health information. In partnership with local Indigenous health service providers, we have successfully implemented OHC in six Ontario cities. The aim of this study is to summarize findings regarding Indigenous population undercount, health inequities, and health service access barriers across study sites.

Methods

We estimated Indigenous population size using OHC census participation survey responses and a multiplier approach. Health inequities between Indigenous populations and overall populations in each city were examined using respondent-driven sampling (RDS), adjusted OHC survey results, and existing public data. Measures included health status outcomes; determinants of health; barriers to health service access, including discrimination by health service providers; and unmet health needs.

Results

Indigenous social networks were strong and extensive, and the urban populations demonstrate resilience and cultural continuity across multiple measures. Self-reported rates of census participation for Indigenous populations were markedly lower than those for the general population in each city, and OHC Indigenous population size estimates were consistently 2‒4 times higher than reported in the census. Indigenous to general population health inequities cut across measures of chronic disease, determinants of health, and unmet health needs. Indigenous populations experienced multiple barriers to health services access, including racial discrimination by health service providers.

Conclusion

The Canadian census appears to markedly underestimate Indigenous population size in urban areas. Indigenous health inequities and service access barriers are striking and cross-cutting. Timely adaptation of health policies, services, and funding allocations in response to these findings is recommended.
10xV4 Genomics Sample Processing Protocol v1
Authors: Institute Allen
Published: October 2024

This protocol is used for rapid generation of 3’ transcriptomic-NGS-ready- single-cell-libraries from pools of cells.
Immunoperoxidase detection of human alpha-synuclein in mouse brain v1
Authors: La Vitola Pietro
Published: October 2024

This protocol is designed for detecting human alpha-synuclein (Abcam, RRID:AB_2537217, MJFR1). Tissues stained with this protocol include 35 μm free-floating mouse brain sections. All tissues were from mice perfused with 4% PFA.
Treatment outcome of gemcitabine and cisplatin induction followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy for stage III-IVA nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A retrospective study v1
Authors: Nguyen Viet Son
Published: October 2024

BackgroundCombining inductionchemotherapy with concurrent chemoradiotherapy is becoming increasingly popularfor treating stage III-IVA nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), especially in patientswith Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated disorders. The objective of this studyis to assess the efficacy of this therapy regimen in terms of treatmentresponse and disease control. Method Thisretrospective descriptive study analyzed 81 patients with stage III-IVAnasopharyngeal cancer (excluding T3N0M0) who underwent gemcitabine andcisplatin induction chemotherapy, followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy atthe Vietnam National Cancer Hospital. Data for the study were collected between03/06/2021 and 03/06/2024. The study also involved a longitudinal follow-up ofthe patients. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS), withsecondary outcomes assessing factors influencing DFS and treatment-relatedtoxicity. Results During the initial3-month period, 76 out of 81 patients achieved a complete response (CR),whereas 5 out of 81 patients achieved a partial response. The duration of thefollow-up period was 18.7 ± 5.3 months, and the rate of 2-year disease-freesurvival (DFS) was 77.6%. The disease-free survival (DFS) was influenced bypatient-related variables including age group, N stage, disease stage, andtreatment interruptions. The toxicity observed in grade 3 were neutropenia(17.3%) and mucositis (32.1%), whereas grade 4 toxic effect was characterizedby nausea (2.4%). 2.6% of patients experienced Grade I and II delayed toxiceffects, as well as Grade III anorexia. Conclusion The combination of Gemcitabine and Cisplatin as aninitial treatment, followed by chemoradiotherapy, demonstrated a significantrate of positive response, effectively controlling the disease with tolerableconsequences. Additional investigation is required to ascertain the long-termeffectiveness and delayed adverse effects.
Sistematik Famili Athyriaceae di Semenanjung Malaysia berdasarkan Gabungan Data Anatomi dan Molekul
Authors: Aliah Nur , Maideen Haja , Nadhirah Nurul , Norhazrina Nik
Published: October 2024

Famili paku pakis Athyriaceae mempunyai taburan kosmopolitan dengan anggaran 650 takson. Pengelasan terkini berdasarkan data daripada jujukan molekul telah mengelaskan spesies Athyriaceae kepada tiga genus utama iaitu Athyrium, Deparia serta Diplazium. Walau bagaimanapun, pengelasan ini masih tidak stabil dan sering berubah kerana belum terdapat data jujukan molekul yang lengkap serta menyeluruh bagi keseluruhan spesies dalam famili ini. Penyelidikan ini telah dijalankan untuk mengkaji hubungan filogeni antara spesies dalam famili Athyriaceae di Semenanjung Malaysia berdasarkan gabungan data ciri anatomi dan molekul. Bagi pendekatan anatomi, ciri bentuk stil dan jenis peruratan telah dicerap manakala bagi pendekatan molekul pula menggunakan data jujukan dari kawasan genom kloroplas (rbcL, atpB, atpA dan trnL-F) dan nukleus ITS (nITS). Keseluruhannya, topologi yang terhasil membuktikan bahawa famili Athyriaceae ialah monofiletik dengan sokongannilai bustrap yang tinggi iaitu 100% serta membentuk dua klad utamaiaitu klad I yang terdiri daripada kesemua spesies Diplazium manakala klad II terdiri daripada kumpulan Athyrium-Cornopteris yang membentuk kumpulan bersama dengan Deparia.
Analisis Tinjauan Sistematik Kesan Iklim dan Altitud Tinggi terhadap Variasi DNA Nuklear dan Mitokondria Manusia
Authors: Zainal Ariffin Shahrul Hisham bin , Lim Koon Seang , Zainol Abidin Intan Zarina , Abdul Wahab Rohaya Megat , Dambul Ramzah
Published: October 2024

Mutasi membolehkan manusia beradaptasi dengan perubahan persekitaran melalui proses pemilihan semula jadi, seterusnya menghasilkan variasi genetik. Perubahan iklim merupakan salah satu penyumbang penting dalam adaptasi dan evolusi manusia. Penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk menilai secaratinjauan sistematik penemuan terkini mengenai kesan pelbagai faktor iklim ke atas variasi genetik manusia. Analisis tinjauan sistematik dijalankan mengikut garis panduan PRISMA dengan pencarian melibatkan kesemua artikel yang diterbitkan antara tahun 2014 hingga 2024 dari lima pangkalan data elektronik utama iaitu PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Scopus dan ScienceDirect. Hasil tinjuan mendapati 15 artikel telah memenuhi kesemua kriteria dan dimasukkan dalam kajian ini. Hasil tinjauan juga menunjukkan faktor persekitaran seperti iklim sejuk (suhu -71.2 °C hingga 8.5 °C), iklim tropika, iklim sederhana dan altitud yang tinggi (>2500 m dari aras laut) telah membentuk variasi genetik dalam populasi manusia. Termoregulasi merupakan mekanisme penyesuaian utama dalam kajian melibatkan kesan iklim dan altitud tinggi terhadap genetik manusia. Terdapat10 gen nuklear iaitu UCP1, UCP2, UCP3, DIO2, FTO, PPARG, PPARGCIA, CIDEA, LEPR dan PRDM16 dikaitkan dengan termoregulasi, manakala5 gen mitokondria seperti MT-ND1, MT-ND2, MT-CYB, MT-ATP6, dan MT-ND5 terlibat dalam kajian penyesuaian iklim sejuk dan altitud tinggi. Gen UCP1 sering dilaporkan beradaptasi dengan iklim sejuk melalui termoregulasi, sementara5 gen mitokondria (MT-ND1, MT-ND2, MT-CYB, MT-ATP6 dan MT-ND5) pula beradaptasi dengan kedua-dua iklim sejuk dan altitud tinggi. Gen ini berpotensi untuk diaplikasikan dalam memahami mekanisme penyesuaian genetik manusia terhadap iklim.
Kesan Keadaan Tinggi Karbon Dioksida dan Kandungan Nutrien Media terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Kandungan Nutrien Wolffia arrhiza
Authors: Azhar Farhannah , Othman Babul Airianah , Maskat Mohamad Yusof
Published: October 2024

Karbon dioksida (CO2) merupakan antara bahan utama yang diperlukan oleh tumbuhan untuk pertumbuhan. Keadaan tinggi CO2 serta nutrien penanaman dapat meningkatkan pertumbuhan hasil tanaman serta memberi kesan terhadap nutrien tumbuhan. Justeru, kajian ini dijalankan untuk menentukan kesan keadaan tinggi CO2 dan nutrien media penanaman (kalium nitrat (KNO3), magnesium sulfat heptahidrat (MgSO4.7H2O), kalsium nitrat tetrahidrat (Ca(NO3)2.4H2O) dan monokalium fosfat (KH2PO4)) terhadap pertumbuhan dan kandungan nutrien Wolffia arrhiza. Wolffia arrhiza telah ditanam di dalam tahap CO2 normal (500 ppm) dan tahap CO2 tinggi (800 ppm) serta 5 kepekatan nutrien media penanaman yang berbeza iaitu N-media (kawalan), 3 kali kepekatan yang lebih rendah (A), 3 kali kepekatan yang lebih tinggi (B), 5 kali kepekatan yang lebih tinggi (C) dan 7 kali kepekatan yang lebih tinggi (D) berbanding N-media. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan keadaan tinggi CO2 meningkatkan pertumbuhan Wolffia arrhiza dengan signifikan (p<0.05) dengan peratus pertumbuhan yang lebih tinggi diperoleh berbanding sampel yang tidak ditanam dalam keadaan tinggi CO2. Perbandingan antara komposisi media yang berbeza menunjukkan tiada perbezaan signifikan bagi kadar pertumbuhan untuk sampel yang ditanam sama ada pada keadaan CO2 normal atau tinggi CO2. Terdapat peningkatan kandungan karbohidrat (p<0.05) Wolffia arrhiza dengan peningkatan tahap CO2 tetapi hanya pada media pertumbuhan dengan kepekatan nutrien yang tinggi (masing-masing 61.4, 64.8 dan 64.3% bagi media B, C dan D). Tiada kesan signifikan oleh tahap CO2 dan kandungan nutrien untuk kandungan protein dan nilai DPPH. Walau pun kajian ini menunjukkan terdapat kesan positif oleh tahap CO2 yang lebih tinggi, lebih banyak kajian perlu dijalankan untuk lebih memahami perubahan yang berlaku secara fisiologi bagi Wolffia arrizha hasil daripada penanaman pada CO2 yang tinggi supaya dapat meningkatkan hasil.
Perbandingan Kaedah Estraksi Mikroplastik dalam Makanan Terproses Budu menggunakan Air Suling dan Kalium Hidroksida
Authors: Mat Lazim Azwan , Abdul Karim Nahrusyifa , Bakri Nurfarah Dyana
Published: October 2024

Pencemaran mikroplastik di dalam makanan yang diproses masih kurang mendapat perhatian. Kaedah estraksi mikroplastik daripada sampel makanan juga masih belum meluas terutama bagi sampel makanan yang melalui proses pembuatan yang kompleks seperti budu. Penggunaan bahan kimia semasa proses pengestrakkan mikroplastik berpotensi menyebabkan kehilangan mikroplastik. Oleh itu, kajian ini membandingkan keberkesanan kaedah ekstraksi menggunakan air suling dan larutan kalium hidroksida (KOH) untuk proses ekstraksi mikroplastik daripada lima jenis sampel budu yang berbeza. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa air suling mampu mengekstrak mikroplastik namun tidak cukup berkesan dalam mengurai bahan organik pada sampel budu yang mengganggu proses pengenalpastian mikroplastik. Penambahan larutan kimia seperti KOH adalah perlu untuk membantu memudahkan proses pengenalpastian mikroplastik. Jumlah mikroplastik yang ditemui dalam kesemua sampel budu adalah rendah, dengan kehadiran sebanyak 19 zarah mikroplastik. Walau bagaimanapun, kehadiran mikroplastik jenis nilon dan logam berat mungkin akan menimbulkan kebimbangan terhadap potensi impaknya kepada kesihatan manusia. Kajian ini menekankan pentingnya pengawalan pencemaran mikroplastik melalui teknik penyediaan yang terkawal dan pemantauan yang tekal dalam industri pemprosesan makanan di Malaysia.
Predictive Factors for Diabetes Mellitus: Insights from Complete Blood Count Analysis
Authors: Kenyang Agnes Ayang , Juhan Nurliyana , Zubairi Yong Zulina , Azizan Nornazirah , Ho Chong Mun
Published: October 2024

The 10th edition of the International Diabetes Federation reports that 537 million people worldwide had diabetes in 2021. In Southeast Asia, countries like Malaysia are facing a growing burden of diabetes. This highlights the urgent need for innovative and resourceful approaches to diabetes management. As the prevalence of diabetes continues to rise in these countries, tailored strategies are necessary. To identify and evaluate the potential prognostic indicators for diabetes mellitus, this study involved a dataset consisting of 500 entries, comprising demographic information and selected blood cells from the Complete Blood Count (CBC) test results obtained from the Clinical Laboratory Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, the prognostic predictors for diabetes mellitus were identified. In the univariate analysis, all variables are statistically significance at 5% level of significance. However, at multivariate analysis, only age, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cells (WBC) and hematocrit (HCT) emerged as significant predictors of diabetes mellitus. Notably, the abnormal level in WBC exhibited the greatest association with diabetes mellitus, reflecting a 114.7% increased risk compared to a normal WBC level. The statistic value obtained from Hosmer-Lemeshow was 0.944 indicating a well-fitting model. Additionally, the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve has a value of 0.7, indicating a strong performance of the model. In conclusion, CBC parameters can be accurate markers and useful in assisting clinical decision-making when properly applied and interpreted.
VALUE-MEANING ASPECTS OF THE CONCEPT "DIGNITY" IN MODERN SOCIAL AND HUMANITARIAN DISCOURSE
Authors:   Bohdan Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University, Melitopol, Ukraine, VYSHNEVSKYI Oleksandr
Published: October 2024

The article provides a detailed analysis of the process of developing the value aspects of the category of dignity in the corpus of socio-philosophical, social, and humanitarian sciences. The main principles of the individual-subjective, national-specific, and political implementation of the concept of dignity in modern humanitarian sciences, legislation of many countries, international law, and social practices are considered. Current approaches to working out the problem of active participation of the individual in establishing humanistic norms of behavior and social relations are established. In the context of the aggression of the Russian Federation and the long-term war on the territory of Ukraine, attention is focused on one of the most important socio-philosophical value identifiers of dignity - personal and collective responsibility, as the ability of individuals and communities to consciously react, influence, control, manage, generate their pro-social activity in a specific situation or context. Taking into account the circumstances of the Ukrainian present, the need to detail as fully as possible the main factors of the value-meaning reflections of the public opinion of the Ukrainian community in many extremely sensitive and socially significant issues in the following scientific investigations is substantiated. In particular, the issues of interaction between personal values and social norms in the conditions of global social changes and challenges are studied. Emphasis is placed on the importance of developing and maintaining a culture of dignity in education and educational practices that contribute to the formation of conscious and responsible citizens. The role of media and information technologies in the formation and dissemination of values of dignity is discussed, in particular in the context of combating propaganda and disinformation. Ways of integrating the concept of dignity into various aspects of state policy and public life are proposed in order to strengthen social unity and justice.
Legal Foundations of State Policy on Self-Defense Weapons: In Quest of a Balance between Public and Private Interests
Authors: Shmidt A. A.
Published: October 2024

The debate on the right of citizens to carry short-barreled weapons, including firearms of limited destruction, has been going on for more than 30 years. The essence of these debates goes far beyond the limits of administrative law, since it is not limited only by the administrative law mechanism for implementing the procedure for acquiring, carrying and using weapons, acting as part of the public legal mechanism for ensuring personal security, security of the society and the State. The relevance of the issues of civilian arms trafficking is aggravated by the complication of the criminal situation during periods of social or economic upheavals that determine the choice of the trajectory of development of state policy for arms trafficking as an area of public law relations. The arguments of supporters and opponents of the use of firearms for self-defense are usually accompanied by arguments based on faith and beliefs rather than on facts and measurements. The purpose of the study is to summarize the legal and empirical resources characterizing administrative law foundations of state policy in relation to lethal and non-lethal self-defense weapons; to assess domestic legislative decisions and determine the directions for further administrative law development of state policy regarding arms trafficking, the expediency of using short-barreled weapons, including firearms of limited destruction, as selfdefense weapons. The interdisciplinary approach made it possible to combine the results of legal and other humanitarian studies. In particular, the achievements of branches of legal sciences of Russian law are brought together: administrative law, theory and history of law, criminology and criminal studies, sociology of law. In conclusion, the paper provides the results of a theoretical study with due regard to the historical, delictological and sociological context of the problem. The author substantiates the necessity of changing the legal foundations of state policy in the field of trafficking in self-defense weapons and gives appropriate proposals.
Copyright Protection of Appropriated Art: Free Use or Transformation of a Pre-Existing Work?
Authors: Ovchinnikov I. V.
Published: October 2024

Appropriative art, i.e., the result of deliberate processing of someone else’s work or part of it, carried out in order to demonstrate one’s own creatively independent artistic declaration, de lege lata falls under the category of a derivative work. Neither Russian law nor foreign legal regulations establish a special exemption from the exclusive right, similar to the exemption applied to works in the genre of parody or caricature, the creation and use of which is considered as a case of free use of the original work. Analysis of foreign judicial practice shows that in the absence of such an exemption, the only remedy against the claim of the copyright holder is a reference to the parodic nature of the result of processing. Meanwhile, courts are reluctant to extend the regime of parody to the appropriative art. American copyright law forms an exception that allows the court to use the transformative test within the framework of the fair use doctrine. According to the test, the use is considered fair if the author, as a result of processing pre-existing work, transformed it into his own artistic statement and (or) his own aesthetics. However, this approach has significant drawbacks, in particular, it directly forces the court to evaluate the artistic merits and significance of a derivative work. Thus, unlike parody, appropriation as an established and recognized art practice has not yet found a decent place within the framework of the institution of free use of the work.
Transformation of Legal Consequences of Unreasonable Refusal of Employment in Contemporary Russian Justice System
Authors: Abalduev V. A.
Published: October 2024

Labor legislation prohibits unjustified refusal of employment and provides job seekers with the opportunity to judicial protection of the right to work. In the Russian justice system, such disputes are becoming widespread. However, the legal fact of unjustified refusal established by the court most often does not ensure that the applicant gets a job. The consequences of such a refusal are limited to compensation for moral damage in monetary form. The purpose of the paper is to critically evaluate judicial practice in this category of labor disputes. Methodologically, the author relies on the formal legal method, systemic methods, as well as the goalsetting method. The author carries out a comparative analysis of the guiding judicial practice of 1992 and 2004, as well as current rulings of the cassation courts of general jurisdiction in cases under study. The author explains the circumstances of unjustified refusals, qualifies unreasonable refusal as illegal. The paper elucidates the role of special safeguards in claims for forcing an employer to conclude an employment contract, provides doctrinal considerations regarding factors that do not allow the court to oblige the employer to hire an individual in all cases of recognition of refusal to conclude an employment contract as illegal. The author explains that in this state of affairs, the norms of Articles 16, 64 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation are not implemented and the goals of judicial protection of the rights of citizens who are wrongfully denied employment are not achieved. The author proposes clarification and addition of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, unifying court decisions on claims for concluding an employment contract. If the refusal is recognized as unreasonable, the courts in all cases must make decisions on the occurrence of an employment relationship and payment for the time of deprivation of the opportunity to work.
Organization of Work on Collecting an Empirical Base for Clarifying the Biological Criteria of Sanity, Limited Sanity, and Insanity (Pilot Project)
Authors: Belichenko R. V.
Published: October 2024

The science of criminal law and forensic psychiatry do not draw clear boundaries between the biological criteria of sanity, limited sanity, and insanity. The paper is devoted to the consideration of the prospects for using modern achievements of neuroscience to clarify the boundaries of biological criteria of sanity, limited sanity, and insanity. The paper provides information on the current state of development of neuroscience in terms of research using neuroimaging methods of the brain of individuals committing criminal offenses. The feasibility of conducting relevant research in Russia is substantiated and an option for organizing such work in the form of a pilot project is proposed. In particular, it is proposed to create a single information database, which is supposed to reflect brief information about persons who have committed criminal acts, about the acts they are accused of, and the results of neuroimaging of the brains of these persons. Several stages of organizing work on collecting an empirical base to clarify the biological criteria of sanity, limited sanity, and insanity are identified and described. Particular attention is given to the issue of the legality of compulsory neuroimaging studies in relation to persons who have committed criminal offences.
Ensuring Confidentiality and Privacy in Criminal Proceedings: A Comparative Legal Analysis of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan Experience
Authors: Lavrushko E. A.
Published: October 2024

The paper examines the limitations of personal rights in criminal proceedings, as well as the risks associated with the lack of compliance with security measures due to the unlawful disclosure of preliminary investigation data. During the research, scientific methods such as analysis, comparison, and expert assessment were used. The study resulted in the identification of significant problems in the current criminal procedure legislation of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the area of observing the personal rights of a person and citizen, as well as ensuring the confidentiality of criminal case materials. Among these are lack of differentiation of principles establishing inviolability in various spheres of life; lack of a clear mechanism and tools for ensuring confidentiality in criminal proceedings; the optional nature of Article 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation, which determines the inadmissibility of disclosing preliminary investigation materials, etc. In studying these problems, possible ways and means of solving them were developed, such as: introducing a special chapter in the Criminal Procedure Code regulating issues of ensuring confidentiality in criminal proceedings; giving an imperative nature to Article 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation; differentiation of the principles of criminal procedure in accordance with various spheres of life.
Theoretical and Methodological Justification for Conducting some Forensic Examinations in the Humanities
Authors: Dyakonova O. G.
Published: October 2024

Forensic expertology distinguishes between different types of use of special knowledge that are expressed in legal proceedings, each of which has its own characteristic features. Despite the problems associated with determining the type of forensic examination, the competence of the expert, etc., in general, an approach to checking and evaluating the conclusion of a forensic expert has been established. One of the important issues when conducting an assessment is checking the correctness of the methodology chosen by the expert, the compliance of the methods with the established criteria: scientificity, verifiability, accuracy, efficiency, safety and ethics. The methodology of various types (kinds) of forensic examinations is developed on a strictly scientific basis, using general theoretical achievements of forensic expertology and the theory of the relevant scientific field, such as linguistics, art history, etc. However, fairly new «forensic examinations» in the humanities have appeared in forensic investigative practice. Among them are cultural studies, religious studies, political science, ethics, etc. Most of these «examinations» are conducted without proper methodological support, with a high level of subjectivity, which cannot be hidden behind the very lengthy explanations given in the conclusion of forensic activities, which is especially evident in the absence of a research section in the conclusion of the forensic expert. In a number of cases, they try to justify the theoretical basis of such «examination» by a non-existent area of scientific knowledge.
О ПРИНЦИПАХ КОРПОРАТИВНОГО УПРАВЛЕНИЯ В РОССИЙСКИХ КОММЕРЧЕСКИХ БАНКАХ
Authors: А.О. Перин
Published: October 2024

Статья посвящена анализу систем корпоративного управления в российских банках, его особенностям и перспективам улучшения. Соблюдение высоких стандартов корпоративного управления в сфере банковской деятельности может способствовать укреплению устойчивости всей банковской системы страны. В работе рассматривается существующая система корпоративного управления в банковском секторе России, выявляются проблемные аспекты и идентифицируются ключевые вызовы, стоящие перед отечественными банками в рассматриваемой сфере. Автором рассматриваются основные принципы корпоративного управления и предлагаются рекомендации по повышению его эффективности в российских банках.

The article focuses on the analysis of corporate governance systems in Russian banks, its peculiarities, and prospects for improvement. Compliance with high standards of corporate governance in banking activities can contribute to strengthening the sustainability of the entire banking system of the country. The paper examines the existing system of corporate governance in the Russian banking sector, reveals problematic aspects and identifies key challenges facing domestic banks in this area. The author considers the main principles of corporate governance and offers recommendations to improve its efficiency in Russian banks.
Cisplatin-etoposide versus paclitaxel-carboplatin along with thoracic radiotherapy in unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a comparison of treatment response
Authors: Parajuli Janak Raman , Tabassum Tasnim , Haque Mostafa Sanaul , Biswas Shourov , Rahman M. Masudur , Siwakoti Prakriti , Chakraborty Jayantta
Published: October 2024

Background: Although many chemotherapy regimens are used concurrently with radiotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the ideal chemotherapy regimen is yet to be determined. The purpose of this study was to compare the therapeutic response of cisplatin-etoposide (EP) and paclitaxel-carboplatin (PC) combined with thoracic radiation in unresectable locally advanced NSCLC.
Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted from October 2020 to September 2021 at two centers in Dhaka. Patients with unresectable, locally advanced, histology proven NSCLC were enrolled and distributed equally in two arms. Patients underwent 60 Gy in 2 Gy daily fractions, five days/week, for six weeks of thoracic radiotherapy with either cisplatin 50 mg/m2 and etoposide 50 mg/m2/day (arm A), or carboplatin (AUC-2) and paclitaxel (45 mg/m2) (arm B). All the patients were evaluated before, during, and after the completion of the treatment. Follow ups were done at 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks following the completion of treatment.
Results: Seventy-four patients were distributed equally into two arms. After 6 weeks 3 (8.11%) patients had complete response (CR), 28 (75.68%) had partial response (PR), and 6 (16.22%) had stable disease (SD) in arm-A. In arm-B, 1 (2.71%), 24 (64.86%), 12 (32.43%) patients had CR, PR and SD respectively. In either arm none had progressive disease (PD). After 24 weeks, 5 (13.51%) versus 2 (5.41%) patients had CR, 15 (40.54%) versus 16 (43.24%) had SD, and 4 (10.81%) versus 6 (16.21%) had PD in arm-A and arm-B respectively. PR was 13 (35.14%) in both arms. But these differences were not significant (p>0.05).
Conclusions: In unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, the short-term treatment response of a cisplatin-etoposide regimen given with concurrent radiation therapy is comparable to that of a paclitaxel-carboplatin regimen.
Assessment of ocular surface diseases in systemic autoimmune conditions
Authors: Islam Mohammad Mazaharul , Sanwar Hossian M. , Saiful Islam M. , Mahfujullah Afzal , Rahman Shish
Published: October 2024

Background: Ocular surface inflammation causing dry eye disease (DED) develops in numerous systemic inflammatory/autoimmune conditions. This study aimed to assess the association between ocular surface disorders and psychological and physiological situations among systemic autoimmune patients.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 60 autoimmune rheumatic patients (120 eyes) visiting the department of ophthalmology at BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2023 to December 2023. Patients were 18 to 80 years old. Pearson and spearman’s analysis were conducted to examine the relationship between systematic conditions and ocular surface conditions. P<0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.
Results: The analysis considered the age and sex of the participants. In the study, a higher percentage of autoimmune rheumatic patients’ eyes had DED compared to the control group. Autoimmune rheumatic patients also had higher OSDI scores, lower tear secretion, more severe CFS, and conjunctivochalasis. Additionally, they had lower SF-36 scores, higher anxiety, and HAQ-DI scores.
Conclusions: Factors such as quality of life, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality are linked to ocular surface conditions, particularly DED symptoms. The management of systemic conditions and psychotherapy should also be considered as part of the treatment for autoimmune rheumatic patients.