bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Navigating Artificial General Intelligence (AGI): Societal Implications, Ethical Considerations, and Governance Strategies
Authors: Bikkasani Dileesh Chandra
Published: July 2024

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) represents a pivotal advancement in AI with far- reaching implications across technological, ethical, and societal domains. This paper addresses the following: (1) an in-depth assessment of AGI’s transformative potential across different sectors and its multifaceted implications, including significant financial impacts like workforce disruption, income inequality, productivity gains, and potential systemic risks; (2) an examination of critical ethical considerations, including transparency and accountability, complex ethical dilemmas and societal impact; (3) a detailed analysis of privacy, legal and policy implications, particularly in intellectual property and liability, and (4) a proposed governance framework to ensure responsible AGI development and deployment. Additionally, the paper explores and addresses AGI's political implications, including national security and potential misuse. By analyzing and considering computer science, philosophy, economics, and policy perspectives, we offer a multidisciplinary view of AGI’s challenges and opportunities, advocating for proactive measures to align AGI development with human values and societal interests.
Microvascular Aspect in Dermis and Muscle after Balneotherapy
Authors: Surdu Traian-Virgiliu , Surdu Olga , Surdu Monica , Mehedinti Mihaela Cezarina , Franciuc Irina , Tucmeanu Elena-Roxana , Tucmeanu Alin-Iulian
Published: July 2024

Background: This study investigates microvascular changes in the dermis and muscle following a balneotherapy regimen prescribed by therapeutic protocols. Methods: Thirty-five inpatients participated in a two-week balneal course involving the application of mud and hypersaline water. Mud was applied outdoors in the summer as cold mud ointment and indoors year-round as mud packs or mud baths alternated with hypersaline water baths. Biopsies of the skin and muscle were obtained twenty-four hours post-discharge and prepared histologically. Results: Analysis focused on the epidermis, dermis, and muscle. Microvascular changes observed included increased caliber and number of open capillaries, as well as the presence of angiogenesis vessels. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in angiogenesis vessels between cold mud ointment and mud pack treatments compared to control and mud bath groups. A higher number of angiogenesis vessels were observed in the dermis in the mud pack group and in the muscle with mud cold ointment. Repeated thermal stimulation with mud and hypersaline water over two weeks produced histologically evident tissue modifications, persisting in the dermis and muscle at least twenty-four hours post-treatment completion.
Patent Review of Novel Compounds Targeting Opioid Use Disorder (2012‐Present)
Authors: Obeng Samuel , McMahon Lance R , Ofori Edward
Published: July 2024

Opioids have served as a cornerstone in pain management for decades. However, the emergence of increasingly potent synthetic analogs brings forth a range of side effects, including respiratory depression, tolerance, dependence, constipation, and, more importantly, the development of severe and debilitating opioid use disorder (OUD). Search for therapeutics to mitigate OUD has been challenging and this has called for novel approaches that include design of small molecules targeting neuronal circuits involved in addiction (opioid, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and glutamate receptors, etc.) and development of biologics that target circulating opioids/opiates. In this review, we retrieved and discussed over two dozen of relevant patents filed in the past twelve (12) years that focus on novel approaches to produce therapeutics for OUD. The current review excluded patents on biologics and concentrated on small molecules, which will be discussed separately in a subsequent sequel. The chemical entities disclosed were highlighted and specific examples were provided where necessary. Although the number of patents in the realm of drug discovery for OUD is currently limited, we foresee a continued expansion in the quest for therapeutics for OUD in the years to come.
Methodology For Automating And Orchestrating Performance Evaluation Of Kubernetes Container Network Interfaces
Authors: Dakic Vedran , Redzepagic Jasmin , Basic Matej , Zgrablic Luka
Published: July 2024

In the dynamic realm of HPC (High-performance computing) and cloud-native applications, ensuring optimal network performance for Kubernetes Container Network Interfaces (CNIs) is critical. Traditional manual methods for evaluating network bandwidth and latency are prone to errors, time-consuming, and lack consistency. This paper introduces a novel approach that leverages Ansible to automate and coordinate network performance tests across diverse CNIs, performance profiles, and configurations. By automating these processes, we eliminate the potential for human errors, ensure the ability to replicate the process, and significantly reduce the time required for comprehensive testing. The use of Ansible playbooks facilitates the efficient and scalable deployment, configuration, and execution of performance tests, enabling comprehensive and standardized benchmarking across various environments. The set of Ansible playbooks, which we will make available online, has a significant real-world impact by providing DevOps teams with robust and reliable tools for consistently monitoring and enhancing network performance. This, in turn, enhances the stability and efficiency of cloud-native applications, accelerates the development cycle, and ensures that Kubernetes-based infrastructures can meet the demanding performance requirements of modern applications.
Natural Materials as Carriers of Microbial Consortium for Bioaugmentation of Anaerobic Digesters
Authors: Dadic Blanka , Ivankovic Tomislav , Spelic Karlo , Hrenović Jasna , Jurisic Vanja
Published: July 2024

Biogas is mainly produced by anaerobic digestion (AD) using organic matter as a substrate. In Mediterranean countries, a promising substrate is lignocellulose biomass of perennial grass Miscanthus x giganteus, due to its potentially high biogas yields, which could be comparable to maize silage. During AD, bacteria convert biomass into more minor compounds, which are further converted to methane by methanogenic archaea. The selection of appropriate microbes for the degradation of the substrate is crucial, and the enhancement of this step lies in the immobilization of microbes on biocarriers. Here, a microbial consortium, de-novo isolated and conditioned to degrade the Mischantus biomass, was immobilized onto several natural biocarriers: natural zeolitized tuff (NZ), ZeoSand®, perlite, and corncob. There was no statistically signifi-cant difference in the numbers of immobilized bacteria between the materials. Therefore, all proved to be suitable for the immobilization of the consortium. In the consortium, five bacterial species with different shares in the consortium were identified: Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter asburiae, Leclercia adecarboxylata, and Exiguobacterium indicum. After im-mobilization on each carrier, the share of each species changed when compared to starting conditions, and the most dominant species was E. cloacae (71-90%), while the share for other species ranged from 2-23%. The share of E. indicum was around 14 % at the start. However, it diminished to less than 1% because it was overgrown during the competition with other bacterial species, not due to an inability to immobilize. For future research, single species could be separately immobilized onto carriers, depending on their degradation capacity, thus creating the targeted and optimized biocarriers.
The Influence of Different Solvents on the Physical Properties of ZnO Thin Films
Authors: López-Suárez Alejandra , Acosta Dwight R.
Published: July 2024

Polycrystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were deposited on soda-lime glass substrates using the chemical spray pyrolysis method at three different substrate temperatures: 400, 450, and 500 ºC. The solvents used in the precursor solution consisted of either ethanol or methanol. The effects of these solvents on the compositional, structural, morphological, electrical, and optical properties were studied with different techniques, including Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Four-Point method and Ultraviolet and Visible Spectroscopy (Uv-Vis). The results show that both temperature and the type of solvent modify the properties of the materials. An essential outcome of the study was that at 500 ºC, the ZnO thin films prepared with either ethanol or methanol exhibited almost the same high-quality crystallinity, stoichiometry, average crystallite size, energy band gap, and resistivity. These findings contribute to our understanding of the properties of these materials and their potential applications.
The Presence of Selenium Nanoparticles May Enhance the Toxicity of Cadmium to Chlamydomonas reinhardtii – Evidence from Wild-Type and Cell-Deficient Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Cells
Authors: Sun Yuanyuan , Gao Min , Zhu Yi
Published: July 2024

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) can mitigate cadmium (Cd2+) toxicity in crop cultivation and aquaculture. This study investigates the impact of SeNPs on Cd-induced toxicity in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a model organism, aiming to mitigate Cd damage in crops. SeNPs were synthesized using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a dispersant and vitamin C to reduce H2SeO3. Characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle granulator revealed uniform, stable spherical SeNPs. Cd2+ and SeNPs of varying concentrations were introduced into culture media of wild type (CC125mt+) and cell wall defect type (CC400mt+) Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Growth curves, photosynthetic pigment content, enzyme activities (T-SOD and CAT), MDA content, and ROS levels were assessed. Fluorescence induction kinetics, QA oxidation kinetics, and Cd2+ content in cells were measured to evaluate SeNPs' effect on Cd toxicity. Results showed SeNPs exacerbated Cd2+ toxicity in CC125mt+ by inhibiting growth and increasing catalase activity, indicating enhanced oxidative damage. SeNPs intensified PSII damage by Cd2+ and increased intracellular Cd2+ content, possibly exacerbating toxicity. SeNPs had no effect on Cd2+ toxicity in CC400mt+. Overall, SeNPs exacerbated Cd2+ toxicity in wild type CC125mt+ but not in cell wall defective CC400mt+. These findings caution against indiscriminate use of nano-selenium to mitigate Cd damage, stressing the importance of careful target selection, dosage, and range considerations.
Fish Viscera Hydrolysates and Their Use as Biostimulants for Plants as an Approach towards Circular Economy: A Review
Authors: Domínguez Haizea , Iñarra Bruno , Labidi Jalel , Bald Carlos
Published: July 2024

Crop production has become a priority issue in the last few years due to the exponential growth of the world population and the need to substitute chemical fertilizers. This last matter is under the spotlight to achieve a more sustainable approach in a cost-effective way. Biostimulants have gained attention as an alternative to chemical fertilizers. Although they are not considered fertilisers as inputs of nutrients, they stimulate plants’ nutrition and tolerance to stress, among other characteristics. Amino acid-based biostimulants have been found to be effective in literature. This review focuses on the effectiveness of biostimulants, their presence in the global market, and mainly in their production with fish by-products as a source, using enzymatic hydrolysis and autolysis, focusing especially on fish viscera, their possibilities in the agricultural sector and their availability in Europe for possible opportunities. Fish viscera protein hydrolysates for biostimulant production seems a feasible alternative to fishmeal production in Europe, mainly in areas located far away from fishmeal plants.
Peptide Functionalization of Emulsion-Based Nanocarrier towards Blood Brain Barrier
Authors: De Capua Alberta , Vecchione Raffaele , Sgambato Cinzia , Chino Marco , Lombardi Angela , Netti Paolo Antonio
Published: July 2024

New strategies for enhancing drug delivery to the blood–brain barrier (BBB) represents a major challenge in treating cerebral diseases. Nano-emulsion based nanocarriers represent an ideal candidate to improve drug delivery thanks to their versatility in functionalization and cargo protection. In this work, a paclitaxel loaded nano-emulsion has been firstly functionalized and stabilized with two layers constituted of chitosan and hyaluronic acid, and, secondly, the latter has been conjugated to the CRT peptide. CRT is a bioactive peptide that selectively recognizes bEnd.3 cells, model of the BBB, thanks to its interactions with transferrin (Tf) and its receptor (TfR).
Cytotoxic results showed a higher uptake of CRT functionalized nano-emulsion 41.5 % more than the negative control, demonstrating the ability of this novel tool to be accumulated on the brain endothelium tissue. Thanks to these results, our approach can be fully generalizable to the design of multifunctional nanocarriers for delivery of therapeutic agents to the central nervous systems.
Bullfights, advances or setbacks? a global and local perspective, from animal law
Authors: Bracho-Fuenmayor Pedro Luis , Del Solar-Duarte Nicolás
Published: July 2024

The purpose of this disquisition is to analyze bullfighting, its advances and setbacks at a global and local level in terms of animal law. It was developed as a descriptive documentary research with a non-experimental design, using the observation and interpretation of documents related to the subject, from the global level, to the local, the national, specific to the regions and communities, being interpreted through the hermeneutic method. In the analysis, results were reached such as: every day more countries are willing to assume that bulls, because they are living beings that feel, are being attended to from the legal and the ethical, propitiating changes in the way of thinking of people in terms of wanting to consider bullfighting, a sport, art and hobby considered cultural heritage of many countries. For this reason, different actions have been generated from surveys, to define the acceptance or not of these events. It is concluded that there are important advances in this regard, as bullfighting is being prohibited in different parts of the world, taking into account the protection that protects animals, but the laws do not establish specific prohibition in this regard worldwide.
Augmented Feature Diffusion on Sparsely Sampled Subgraph
Authors: Wu Xinyue , Chen Huilin
Published: July 2024

Link prediction is a fundamental problem in graphs. Currently, SubGraph Representation Learning (SGRL) methods provide state-of-the-art solutions for link prediction by transforming the task into a graph classification problem. However, existing SGRL solutions suffer from high computational costs and lack scalability. In this paper, we propose a novel SGRL framework called Augmented Feature Diffusion on Sparsely Sampled Subgraph (AFD3S). The AFD3S first uses a conditional variational autoencoder to augment the local features of the input graph, effectively improving the expressive ability of downstream Graph Neural Networks. Then, based on a random walk strategy, sparsely sampled subgraphs are obtained from the target node pairs, reducing computational and storage overhead. Graph diffusion is then performed on the sampled subgraph to achieve specific weighting. Finally, the diffusion matrix of the subgraph and its augmented feature matrix are used for feature diffusion to obtain operator-level node representations as inputs for the SGRL-based link prediction. Feature diffusion effectively simulates the message-passing process, simplifying subgraph representation learning, thus accelerating the training and inference speed of subgraph learning. Our proposed AFD3S achieves optimal prediction performance on several benchmark datasets, with significantly reduced storage and computational costs.
3,5-dimethyl-2,4,6-trimethoxychalcone Lessens Obesity and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) in Leptin-Deficient ob/ob Mice
Authors: Gaige Stéphanie , Abysique Anne , Barbouche Rym , Di Maio Attilio , Robin Maxime , Lormier Anh Tuan , Troadec Jean-Denis
Published: July 2024

Chalcones constitute an important group of natural compounds abundant in fruits and comestible plants. They are a subject of increasing interest because of their biological activities including antidiabetic and anti-obesity effects. The simple chalcone structural scaffold can be modified at multiple sites with different chemical moieties. Here we generated an artificial chalcone, i.e., 3,5-dimethyl-2,4,6-trimethoxychalcone (TriMetChalc), derived from 2′,4′-Dihydroxy-6′-methoxy-3′,5′-dimethylchalcone (DMC). DMC is the major compound of Cleistocalyx operculatus, a plant widely used in Asia for its anti-hyperglycemic activity. Using ob/ob mice as an obesity model, we ported that, after 3 weeks of per os administration, TriMetChalc modified food intake through the specific activation of brain structures dedicated to the regulation of energy balance. TriMetChalc also decreased weight gain, glucose intolerance and hepatic steatosis. Moreover, through extensive liver lipidomic analysis, we identified TriMetChalc-induced modifications that could contribute to improving the liver status of the animals. Hence, TriMetChalc is a chalcone derivative capable of reducing food intake and addition of glucose intolerance, and hepatic steatosis in a mouse model of obesity. In light of these results, we believe that TriMetChalc action deserves to be more deeply evaluated over longer treatment periods and/or in combination with other chalcones with protective effects on the liver.
Understanding the Impacts of LED Light Pollution in Marine Ecosystems: Phototaxis Response in Fairy Prion
Authors: Middlemiss Karen , Cieraad Ellen , Mander Susan , Fischer Johannes , Goad David
Published: July 2024

Anthropogenic lighting elicits positive phototaxis responses (i.e., attraction) in birds, insects, and many other species across ecosystems. Impacts from lights in marine systems are poorly understood, despite evidence that vessel lighting can cause seabird disorientation and collisions, potentially leading to injury or mortality. The level of attraction generated by different types of lighting, including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), is also not well understood in most seabirds. Using fairy prions (Pachyptila turtur), a species showing strong positive phototaxis particularly to artificial lights on vessels, we investigated the effects of LED colour and lumen output at a colony during the breeding season. We used six random treatment groups (control (dark), red light, amber low lumen, amber high lumen, white low lumen, and white high lumen) and measured attraction and disorientation. Data was analysed using generalised linear mixed-effects models while accounting for environmental variables. Results showed that the control (“dark”) and red light attracted fewest birds, and attraction/disorientation did not differ between these. Medium responses were elicited by amber low/high and white low, while white high lumen induced the highest abundance and attraction/disorientation response. These results agreed with our desktop study, which predicted response rankings based on each light treatment’s colour spectrum and lumen output and a related species’ spectral response. Furthermore, time of night increased bird counts, as did higher humidity, increased moon illumination, and reduced moon visibility. Our data highlight the need to consider LED colour, lumen output, and time of night to reduce anthropogenic lighting impacts on land and at sea.
Positive Childhood Experiences and Adult Mental, Relational and Physical Health in an Australian Sample: Associations Across Adverse Childhood Experiences
Authors: Blythe Stacy , Huynh Thu , Elcombe Emma L , Peel Nicole , Kemp Lynn
Published: July 2024

(1) Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) have potential to impact long-term health outcomes. Understanding these interrelationships can inform the development of interventions to promote societal health (2) Methods: D/PMH was defined as a diagnosis of depression and/or more than 14 days of poor mental health in the previous month. Those reporting poor physical health for more than 14 days in the previous month or categorising their physical health as ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ were deemed to have PG/PPH. Seven categorical questions based on subscales in the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-28 were used to define PCEs.(3) Results: Increased ACEs exposure use significantly associated with increased odds of D/PHM (p<0.001), increased odds of PG/PHH (p=0.010) and decreased odds of AR-SES (p<0.001). Increased exposure to PCEs was significantly associated with decreased odds of D/PHM (p<0.001), increased odds of PG/PHH (p<0.001) and decreased odds of AR-SES (p< 0.001). For all outcomes, exposure to PCEs reduced the strength of the association between ACEs and outcomes. (4) Conclusions: A positive dose response between the number of ACEs and adult D/PMH, PG/PPH and lower AR-SES exists within the Australian population. PCEs weaken this association, demonstrating their mitigating potential. PCEs promoted adult outcomes, irrespective of ACEs.
Angiotensin II alters Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Lipid Metabolism in Rat Colonic Epithelial Cells
Authors: Toth Darby D. , Souders II Christopher L , Patuel Sarah J , English Cole D , Konig Isaac , Ivantsova Emma , Malphurs Wendi , Watkins Jacqueline , Costa Kaylie A , Bowden John A , Zubcevic Jasenka , Martyniuk Christopher J.
Published: July 2024

An over-active renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is characterized by elevated angiotensin II (Ang II). While Ang II can promote metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction in tissues, little is known about its role in the gastrointestinal system (GI). Here, we treated rat primary colonic epithelial cells to Ang II (1-5000 nM) to better define its role in the GI. We hypothesized that Ang II would negatively affect mitochondrial bioenergetics as these organelles express Ang II receptors. Ang II increased cellular ATP production but reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of colonocytes. However, cells maintained mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis with treatment, reflecting metabolic compensation with impaired MMP. To determine whether lipid dysregulation was evident, untargeted lipidomics were conducted. 1949 lipids were detected in colonocytes spanning 55 distinct (sub)classes. Ang II (1 nM) altered the abundance of some sphingosines [So(d16:1)], ceramides [Cer-AP(t18:0/24:0)], and phosphatidylcholines [OxPC(16:0_20:5(2O)], while 100 nM Ang II altered some triglycerides and phosphatidylserines [PS(19:0_22:1). Ang II did not alter the relative expression of several enzymes in lipid metabolism; however, expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 2 (PDK2) was increased and PDK2 can be protective against dyslipidemia. This study is the first to investigate the role of Ang II on colonic epithelial cell metabolism.
Vestibular Neurostimulation for Parkinson’s Disease: A Novel Device Aided Noninvasive Therapeutic Option.
Authors: Ray Chaudhuri Kallol , Poplawska-Domaszewicz Karolina , Qamar Mubasher , Limbachiya Naomi , Batzu Lucia , Podlewska Aleksandra , Ade Kristen
Published: July 2024

Dopaminergic replacement therapy remains the mainstay of symptomatic treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD), but many unmet needs and gaps remain. Device based treatments or device-aided non-oral therapies are typically used in the advanced stages of PD, ranging from stereotactic deep brain stimulation to levodopa or apomorphine infusion therapies but there are concerns due to a number of procedural, hardware, or long-term treatment-related side effects of these treatments, and limited nonmotor benefit in PD. Therefore, there is an urgent unmet need for low risk adjuvants or standalone therapies which can address the range of burdensome motor and nonmotor symptoms that occur in PD. Recent studies suggest that non-invasive neurostimulation of the vestibular system may be able to address these gaps with stimulation of the vestibular brainstem sensory network which extensively innervates brain regions regulating both motor and a range of nonmotor functions. Therapeutic non-invasive vestibular stimulation is a relatively modern concept that may potentially improve a broad range of motor and nonmotor symptoms of PD, even at early stages of the disease. Here we review previous studies supporting the therapeutic potential of vestibular stimulation for the treatment of PD and discuss ongoing clinical trials and potential areas for future investigations.
WHO ICOPE Screening Tool in Brazilian Elderly People: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Cruz Thainá Gabriele Camargo da , Nascimento Livia Maria do , Silva Juliana Fernanda de Lima e , Silva Letícia Prado , Inácio Beatriz Bigatão , Scheicher Marcos Eduardo
Published: July 2024

Objectives: Evaluate the performance of diagnostic measures (sensitivity and specificity) of the intrinsic capacity (IC) construct recommended by the WHO ICOPE guidelines by domain and by age group. Study design: This cross-sectional study included 164 community-dwelling elderly (95 women and 69 men). The participants completed the assessment of the 5 domains of IC (cognition, psychological, vitality, locomotion and sensory). In addition, they were assessed for activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), frailty and urinary incontinence. Main outcomes measures: Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the intrinsic capacity and identify which domains were compromised. Comparisons between three or more samples were made by 1-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-test and those with two samples by the t-test or Mann-Whitney test for quantitative variables. Chi-square test was used for qualitative variables. The sensitivity and specificity of each domain and each domain by age group were evaluated using the ROC curve. Results: Participants with a decline in IC were older, worse ADL, IADL and mental function, low gait speed, and higher depression scores. In addition, people with a decline in IC had frailty, urinary incontinence. Other issues related to the decline in CI were self-reported non-practice of physical activities and level of schooling.The evaluation of each domain did not prove to be a good screening tool (sensitivity or specificity < 80%, but both values > 50%). When the analyses were separated by domain and age group, good performance was found in the psychological (69-69 years and ≥80 years), vitality (≥80 years) and sensory (≥80 years) domains. Conclusions: The ICOPE screening tool performed well in terms of diagnostic measures when applied by domain and age group.
Exploratory Study of Guanidine Derivatives as Novel Anti Trypanosoma cruzi Scaffolds
Authors: Zampieri Eduardo Henrique , Junior Policarpo Ademar Sales , Murta Silvane Maria Fonseca , Kalaba Predrag , Prado-Roller Alexandre , Gajic Natalie , Zehl Martin , Fabisikova Ana , dos Anjos Luana Ribeiro , Gushiken Luana Passianoto , Lubec Gert , Gonzalez Eduardo Rene Perez
Published: July 2024

Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected tropical parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Unfortunately, the current etiological treatment for CD is unsatisfactory, due to the high toxicity and low cure efficacy of compounds, mainly during the chronic phase of this disease. Thus, the discovery of new drugs for the treatment of CD is urgent. In the present study, we report the synthesis of a series of guanidines and its evaluation in in vitro assays to determine the trypanocidal effects on the Tulahuen T. cruzi strain, transfected with a β-galactosidase reporter gene, in comparison to the cytotoxic effects on vertebrate cells. The most potent and selective compounds LQOF-G1 and LQOF-G29 were considered good drug prototypes and candidates for in vivo tests using mice. Both compounds possess an electron withdrawing group on the aniline moiety, namely a NO2 and Br group, respectively, which effectively decrease the electron density. LQOF-G29 stands out among the investigated compounds due to the replacement of the benzyl group by methyladamantane.
Efficacy of Groprinosin in complex therapy of pharyngeal tonsil hypertrophy and chronic adenoiditis in children
Authors: Khaliullina S.V. ,   Kazan State Medical University, Kazan, Russian Federation, Pokrovskaya E.M. , Mannanova E.F. ,   Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation,   Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation,   Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation
Published: July 2024

Objective. Evaluation of the effectiveness of including the drug with immunostimulating and antiviral effects Groprinosin® in the combined treatment of children with hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil (PHT) / chronic adenoiditis (DCA). Patients and methods. A comparative prospective study was conducted involving 355 children with PHT and DCA. 253 children received surgical treatment with the recommended basic therapy, 102 – the same, but with the addition of 2 courses of Groprinosin®. The children were observed for a year after surgery, and the frequency of episodes of acute respiratory infections (ARI) and relapses of HGM was assessed. Statistical analysis of the results was carried out using the Statistica 8 (USA) program. Results. In 81.4% of children with GGT/CA, DNA of lymphotropic herpes viruses with a significant predominance of the Epstein–Barr virus was found in the nasopharyngeal wash. In all groups after treatment, there was a statistically significant decrease in the frequency of ARI episodes: up to 2 (IQR 2–3) times a year with Groprinosin® treatment and up to 5 (IQR 2–4) without it, p = 0.023. In 29 children (8.2%) a relapse of HGM was observed: in one of the group treated with Groprinosin®, in 28 – without it. Conclusion. The high efficacy and safety of the drug Groprinosin® allows us to recommend its inclusion in the treatment protocol for children with clinically significant hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil in combination with active Epstein–Barr viral infection after adenoidectomy. Key words: hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil, chronic adenoiditis, treatment, relapses, inosine pranobex, children
Approaches to follow-up of preschool children with different types of psychosomatic constitution suffering from chronic adenoiditis
Authors: Sultanov I.S. ,   Ivanovo State Medical University, Ivanovo, Russian Federation, Boboshko I.E. , Zhdanova L.A. ,   Ivanovo State Medical University, Ivanovo, Russian Federation,   Ivanovo State Medical University, Ivanovo, Russian Federation
Published: July 2024

The article presents a program of medical and social support for preschool children with different types of psychosomatic constitution suffering from complicated chronic adenoiditis. The study involved 82 children aged 4 to 7 years, who were referred after inpatient treatment under the supervision of a paediatrician and an otorhinolaryngologist of a polyclinic. Children in the main group (n = 82; of these, 23 (47.9%) were classified as introverted and 25 (52.1%) as extroverted types of psychosomatic constitution) were given recommendations differentiated according to the identified constitutional features of the course of chronic adenoiditis. Children of the control group (n = 34) underwent traditional rehabilitation. After 6 months, all children in the main group showed persistent remission and regression of clinical manifestations characteristic of their type, and their quality of life improved. In children of the control group, who received traditional recommendations, the positive dynamics was weaker. Thus, the program of support for preschool children with chronic adenoiditis, taking into account the constitutional features of the course of the disease, can be used in the organization of the outpatient stage of rehabilitation. Key words: introverts, rehabilitation program, psychosomatic constitution, chronic adenoiditis, extroverts
Understanding Virtual Laboratories in Engineering Education: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Wahyudi Muhamad Nur Azmi , Budiyanto Cucuk Wawan , Widiastuti Indah , Hatta Puspanda , Bakar Mohd. Shafie Bin
Published: July 2024

Engineering education has gained significant importance in the 21st century due to its integration of essential technological literacy needed in our rapidly changing world. Laboratories, including virtual laboratories, allowstudents to apply theoretical knowledge practically. Virtual laboratories have emerged as innovative tools that offer increased accessibility and flexibility. This study reviewed 29 peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus and published between 2018 and 2023 on the use of virtual laboratories in engineering education. The research employed a systematic literature review framework, utilizing PRISMA for article selection.The findings indicate that virtual laboratories provide numerous benefits, including cost-effectiveness, flexibility, safety, and accessibility. They boost student motivation, engagement, and the ability to apply knowledge while effectively enhancing conceptual understanding and practical skills. Virtual laboratories support the development of pedagogical skills and promote careers in engineering by offering a comprehensive and inclusive learning environment.Despite these advantages, challenges likelimited interactivity, restricted content, and technical issues persist. Virtual laboratories are valuable supplements to traditional laboratories, providing an economical means to explore phenomena and offering a safe space for experimentation. Educators should consider the benefits and limitations ofintegrating virtual laboratories into their curriculum. This study aims to deepen the understanding of virtual laboratories in engineering education, advocating for their broader adoption as an innovative tool with a positive impact.  
Theory Neutral Qualia?
Authors: Gorbachev Maxim ,   National Research University Higher School of Economics
Published: July 2024

One of the central questions for contemporary philosophy of mind can be considered to be the question of the status of what is commonly called phenomenal consciousness or qualia. Any theory of consciousness must offer an explanation of phenomenality, which poses hard problem for researchers. However, it is not hard to see that such a formulation of the problem may be biased toward theories that deny that phenomenal consciousness has any characteristics, which poses the very difficult problem that cannot be solved by the ways of describing physical reality that we know. To avoid such bias, it is sometimes said that it is necessary to present a theory neutral explanandum, the existence of which would be agreed upon by all parties of the discussion. Such an object, as conceived, should, on the one hand, preserve some of the basic certainties of our experience, which are implied in the first place when we talk about phenomenal consciousness. And on the other hand, it should contain nothing that inherently inclines us toward any particular strategy of explanation. A separate problem, however, is whether it is possible in principle to propose such a neutral explanandum in the context of the question of the nature and features of phenomenal consciousness.
Quining Diet Qualia Part I
Authors: Frankish Keith ,   University of Crete, Gorbachev Maxim ,   National Research University Higher School of Economics
Published: July 2024

This is the first part of the article by Keith Frankish Quining Diet Qualia, which asks whether we can identify a neutral explanandum for theories of phenomenal consciousness, acceptable to all sides. The “classic” conception of qualia, on which qualia are intrinsic, ineffable, and subjective, will not serve this purpose, but it is widely assumed that a watered-down “diet” conception will. The author argues that this is wrong and that the diet notion of qualia has no distinctive content. There is no phenomenal residue left when qualia are stripped of their intrinsicality, ineffability, and subjectivity. Thus, if we reject classic qualia realism, we should accept that all that needs explaining are “zero” qualia – our dispositions to judge that our experiences have classic qualia. Diet qualia should, in Dennett’s phrase, be quined.
Maimonides, Gersonides and Crescas on Prophets and Prophecy
Authors: Sleptsova Valeriya ,   Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: July 2024

R. Moshe ben Maimon (1136–1204), R. Levi ben Gershom (1288–1344) and R. Hasdai Crescas (1340–1410/12) in their main philosophical works consider the phenomenon of prophecy as something that gives rise to philosophical questions and requires philosophical understanding. The definition of prophecy as an emanation from God that is emanating into the intellect of the individual, and the definition of a prophet as a person who performs miracles and conveys messages leading people to some good goal, and these miracles and messages can vary in degree, are common to all three thinkers based on ideas of peripatetic philosophy. However, despite the fact that each of these thinkers primarily focuses on the same corpus of texts (the texts of the Tanakh and Talmud), the emphasis that the philosophers make creates significant differences in their concepts. For example, the views of these philosophers differ on how the test of the truth of a prophet can be carried out, as well as whether all prophetic predictions should (and can) be fulfilled. In the paper we distinct two roles of prophetic knowledge. They are the prognostic role and the pedagogic one. We demonstrate that Crescas highlights the prognostic function of the prophecy, but for Gersonides the pedagogic one is brought to the forefront. We also demonstrate, that prophecy is a doxastic practice with overrider system.
Philosophy of Language of Abram Deborin
Authors: Nikandrov Alexey ,   Lomonosov Moscow State University
Published: July 2024

The article is devoted to one of the little-known episodes of the scientific life of the famous Soviet philosopher Academician Abram Deborin. The author will analyze his works on linguistics. In the mid 1930s. Abram Deborin enthusiastically set about creating his own linguistic and philosophical concept of the origin of language and thinking on the basis of Nikolai Marr’s “New theory of language”. He developed and supplemented this doctrine, building a complete philosophy of language. Marr’s doctrine correlated with the Marxist-Leninist worldview of Abram Deborin, and also corresponded to his adherence to the doctrine of Hegel. The focus of the article is the book The New Doctrine of Language and Dialectical Materialism (1935), as well as his other works that deal with questions of linguistics. Developing the ideas of Marr, the Soviet philosopher strengthened his Marxist argument and resolved some of the contradictions of Marrism. He left aside the insignificant linguistic aspects of Marrism, which had nothing to do with philosophical problems. Abram Deborin became the first author of works on linguistics written from the standpoint of the “New theory of language”, and he was the only one to remain so. After the famous discussion on linguistics in 1950, when Joseph Stalin came out with the work Marxism and Problems of Linguistics, in which Marrism was crushed, Abram Deborin was forced to repent of his mistakes, demonstrating his rejection of the “New theory of language”. However, the scientist did not abandon the important idea of Nikolai Marr about the transition from synthetic thinking in primitive society to analytical thinking in class society. This idea was developed in his works at the junction of philosophy and linguistics, written after 1950. In this period particularly developed in his philosophy of language was the idea of the coincidence of opposite meanings in one word expressing some concept of the human protolanguage.
Climatic determinants of the Carpathian treeline and its projected upward shifts in response to climate change
Authors: Mkrtchian Alexander , Mueller Daniel
Published: July 2024

Treelines represent a significant ecological boundary in mountainous regions. Changes in temperature and precipitation regimes due to climate change affect the location of treelines, contingent on fine-scale variations in orographic and climatic conditions. Using high-resolution satellite imagery, we identified climatic treelines in the Carpathian Mountains, one of Europe’s largest contiguous forest ecosystems. We downscaled climate variables to a 30-meter resolution through a polynomial approximation of regression residuals with terrain attributes, then correlated climatic variables with the location of the climatic treeline. Growing degree days above 5°C demonstrated the strongest correlation with treeline location. Our growing degree threshold results in a total area of 1,370 km2 above the current climatic treeline in the Carpathians. This area constitutes the climatic envelope for alpine ecosystems and comprises the highest ridges and peaks. Using future climate projections, this area will likely decrease to 410–515 km2 by 2040, 100–320 km2 by 2060, and 15–290 km2 by 2080. The upward shift threatens the region's rare and endemic alpine species and will trigger substantial ramifications for ecosystems, water balance, and the carbon cycle in the Carpathian Mountains. A better understanding of the effects of climate change on treeline locations is crucial for informing ecosystem management and conservation planning, as well as to cushion the impacts of climate change on agriculture and forestry practices.
Perceptions and attitudes of Nursing students towards end-of-life care: a Phenomenological Study at a tertiary hospital in Uganda
Authors: Nabirye Asha K. , Munabi Ian G. , Mubuuke Aloysius G. , Kiguli Sarah
Published: July 2024

Introduction:
Clinical practice is an important part of nursing education as it helps nursing students transition into competent health professionals who can provide quality services. However, research studies convey it as a significant stressor for nursing students when they are obliged to end of life during clinical practice. The perceptions of nursing students on caring for end-of-life care have not been exhaustively studied in the Ugandan context. This study was conducted to understand nursing students' perceptions of end-of-life care during clinical practice at Mulago Hospital.
Methods
It was a qualitative study with a phenomenology method carried out among 15 nursing students from Makerere University who were assigned to Mulago Hospital for clinical practice. Data was gathered using an in-depth interview guide, audio was captured, and transcriptions were analyzed thematically using Atlas.ti version 6.
Results
Three main themes emerged from the data; two themes on perceptions were (i) reactions when nursing students were informed about the physical process of caring for dying patients and (ii) how student ideas about the care changed during the process of caring for end-of-life. The third theme was the attitude of students towards patients when offering end of life care. participants described their reactions as chaotic, devastated and scared about their first-time encounter with caring for dying patients, the physical process also required preparation to handle the situation and understanding, and for positive personal values felt respected, appreciated, trusted and valued when informed about the physical process of caring for the end-of-life
Conclusion: In this study, nursing students held divisive attitudes on care for dying patients. However, nursing students appear to transition from unfavorable impressions of the process and encounter of caring for dying patients to positive perceptions during the actual caregiving experience. Despite their differing perspectives on caring for dying patients, students were typically empathic towards them.
Integrative omics provide new insights on association of RNA splicing with the tumorigenesis of Wilms’ Tumor
Authors: Lin Yang , Lin Lin , chen shan , Li Bing , zhang lin , wang jianbin , Qiu Xinyi , He Shiwei , Xu Di , Li Lizhi
Published: July 2024

Background The tumorigenesis of Wilms’ tumor (WT) or nephroblastoma is still unclear. The alteration of RNA splicing and EMT is the manifestation of tumorigenesis. Therefore, this study aims to study the association between RNA splicing and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), for better understanding on the tumorigenesis of WT.
Methods Using the high-resolution mass spectrometry to collect the peptide information in WT and control kidney (CK) after the pre-treatment (extraction, purification and digestion) of protein, intending to find out the protein profiles of WT via database alignment. Then a label-free quantification method based on the SWATH-MSALL proteomic technology was performed to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between WT and CK. The bioinformatics analysis employs the GO (Gene Ontology), KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway, and PPI (protein-protein interaction) analysis. Integrated with the data from single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq transcriptomicss, aiming to further annotation of DEGs enrichment in WT tumorigenesis via GO, KEGG and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA).
Results In our study, 2005 proteins were identified from Wilms’ tumor with a global false discovery rate (FDR) of 1% (FDR threshold, 84%), followed by 330 DEPs between WT and CK (P＜0.05, |log2fold-change (FC)| ≥ 1). Integrated with the data of scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq transcriptomicss, the function enrichment of DEGs represented RNA splicing and epigenetic modification. The validation assays also revealed the over-expression of the transcription factors heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) in WT, compared with CK tissue. Further investigation revealed the aberrant accumulation of hnRNP A1 and PARP1 in the mesenchymal compartment of WT, indicative of the critical roles in the dysregulation of EMT.
Conclusions There were amounts of DEPs between WT/CK engaging in RNA splicing, indicative of the complicated transcription regulatory in tumorigenesis of nephroblastoma. Integrated with data from multi-omics and validation assay, hnRNP A1 and PARP1 could play role of the tumor-enriched biomarkers. However, the possibility of hnRNP A1 and PARP1 in targeted therapy for WT remained to consideration. It’s necessary to further investigate the role of hnRNP A1 and PARP1 on the alternative splicing (AS) and EMT for tumorigenesis of WT.